Which type of influence has been most significant in shaping the distribution of religious groups in the United States?

The influence that has been most significant in shaping the distribution of religious groups in the United States is immigration patterns. Throughout U.S. history, waves of immigrants arriving from various regions have brought diverse religious practices and beliefs. For instance, significant numbers of Catholics arrived from countries like Ireland and Italy in the 19th and early 20th centuries, influencing religious demographics in urban centers.

Similarly, more recent immigration from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East has introduced Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and various other faiths, contributing to the multicultural religious landscape in the United States. The concentration of these groups in specific areas often corresponds with where immigrant communities have settled, resulting in distinct neighborhoods or regions becoming associated with particular religious identities.

While migration patterns also play a role in the overall distribution of populations and may include internal movements within the country, immigration patterns are particularly crucial because they involve the influx of new religious groups and the establishment of their practices and institutions over time. Economic and political factors can affect the practice and visibility of religion but do not drive the foundational distribution of religious groups in the same direct manner as immigration does.