A Quick Question

Where are all of the megachurches?

From 2005 data

The quick answer:   All over but also clustered into specific areas.

The longer answer: It shouldn’t be too surprising that these churches cluster around major metropolitan areas.  Viewed nationally in 2000 approximately 70% were found in the Sunbelt but over time some changes in this pattern have developed.  In the past 15 years considerable more are found in the midsection of the country and on both northern coasts.

Within a breakdown by census regional divisions this pattern is apparent. 

Regarding state distribution, all but 7 states have megachurches – with the greatest concentration in California, Texas, Florida and then Georgia – in total accounting for 40% of all megachurches.  This plotting of all the megachurches in the United States shows the distribution but also the clustering around major population centers.

Not too surprising, the heavily populated sprawl cities of Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and so forth have the greatest number of these churches.

Within the metropolitan areas, the vast majority are located in suburbs – this placement has sifted considerably in the decades that megas existed – up to the 1970’s most very large churches were downtown – the established “first churches”  In the decades of the 70-80’s the majority of megas were constructed in the first ring of suburbs – now the older suburbs, since the 1990’s however there has been both considerable movement of churches to newer suburbs and exurbs as well as significant new construction on the fringes of the growth areas.  

The placement of megas within these cities is not without significance.   They are found at the “intersections of public suburban life”  - in a way similar to the earlier first churches in the center of a city.  They are often located at crossroads, at major highway intersections, near schools, malls, office parks and commercial centers.   These megachurches often sit between communities and commercial areas. 

This plotting of megachurches in the Atlanta area shows that many of them are located along major highways or at the intersections of regional interstate roads.

As a consequence, megachurches can and do draw attendees from everywhere – with people willing to drive up to an hour, past dozens of other churches. 

As such the megachurches are best understood as “regional churches” similar to magnet schools with a particular vision or interest based attraction.

They are not within the typical model of “Church."

Read more about megas in our Megachurch Research section.

Scott Thumma

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