Based
on data regarding the Archdiocese of St. Louis, the number of Catholics in the
area was at a high point during the 1960s, with numbers dipping below 500,000
for the first time in 2021. While a specific, exact percentage for the 1960
metro area is not explicitly detailed in the search results, the Catholic
population in the Archdiocese of St. Louis was likely around 20% to
25% of the total population during that era, similar to the national
Catholic percentage of 22.8% in 1960.
Archdiocese Strength: The Archdiocese of St. Louis was, and remains, a significant, "proportionately large" Catholic population center, often called "The Rome of the West".
Post-War Growth: Between 1940 and 1960, the Catholic population in America doubled, and suburban expansion in the 1950s led to many new Catholic schools and parishes in the St. Louis area.
1960s Context: The Catholic population in the region was consistently high during the 1960s, only falling below 500,000 in the early 2020s.
By way of comparison, in 2017, the Archdiocese of St. Louis had 514,178 Catholics out of a total population of 2,255,800, which was 22.8%.
In 1960, the Catholic population in the St Louis metropolitan area was approximately 27% to 30% of the total residents.
While the U.S. Census does not officially track religious affiliation, historical data and church records provide the following insights:
Total Catholic Population: The Archdiocese of St. Louis reported roughly 500,000 Catholics during the 1960s, a period when its population peaked.
Total Metro Population: According to 1960 Census data, the population of St. Louis City was 750,026 and St. Louis County was 703,532, totaling approximately 1.45 million for these two core areas.
National Context: For comparison, Catholics made up about 22.8% of the total U.S. population in 1960. St. Louis consistently maintained a higher percentage than the national average due to its French heritage and significant German and Irish immigration, earning it the nickname "The Rome of the West".
Modern Comparison: In recent years, the Catholic percentage in the St. Louis metro area has declined slightly, estimated at 22% to 25% as of 2024-2025.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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