A single Amish settlement was founded in South Dakota in 2010
Amish have attempted to settle in North Dakota on numerous occasions. They’ve paid much less attention to the other Dakota, better known for its communities of Hutterites, Anabaptist cousins to the Amish.
While North Dakota has no existing Amish communities today, a single Amish settlement is now found in South Dakota, started by Wisconsin Amish in 2010.
Location of Hutchinson County, home of the only Amish settlement in South Dakota
Amish in South Dakota
In July of 2010, the Yankton Press & Dakotan reported that 5 Wisconsin Amish families (hailing from the Tomah Amish community) had settled the area near the town of Tripp in Hutchinson County in southeastern South Dakota, “with more families expected soon” (‘Elbow Room’, Yankton Press & Dakotan, Randy Dockendorf, July 17, 2010).
The group made news as South Dakota previously had no Amish presence, though numerous Hutterite colonies have long existed in the state (the largest US Hutterite presence is found in South Dakota, with around 60 colonies).
It was also noteworthy in the context of greater Westward migration by Amish to states such as Colorado, Nebraska, and Montana.
New settler Mary Borntreger explained that the group “needed some elbow room” as the Tomah community had gotten too crowded for their liking. Borntreger also described receiving a warm welcome from the local English community.
The Hutchinson County group is a conservative bunch, using buggies with removable storm fronts and relying on neighbors’ phones when needed (‘Elbow Room’). On arrival, the newcomer Amish erected barns and began holding a weekly bake sale (‘Study: Amish expand westward, including South Dakota’, AP/Rapid City Journal, July 28, 2010).
This settlement is very young and it remains to be seen how it will develop, though early reports seem positive that more Amish intend to settle the area.
For further information, see:
“Amish Population by State (2010)” Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College(http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/Population_by_State_2010.asp)
Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites, Donald B. Kraybill
‘Elbow Room’, Yankton Press & Dakotan, Randy Dockendorf, July 17, 2010
‘Study: Amish expand westward, including South Dakota’, AP/Rapid City Journal, July 28, 2010
The Amish in America: Settlements That Failed 1840-1960, David Luthy
Amish Settlements Across America: 2008, David Luthy
The New American Almanac 2011, Raber’s Bookstore (Baltic, Ohio), Ben J. Raber
Amish Furniture – South Dakota
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8 responses to South Dakota Amish
Amish Relocating
Greetings,
When you are a group of Amish such as this group here, how do you go about first making the decision to relocate, then where to relocate to? How do you know this would be a good location? I guess I am particularly interested in how they would research the area first? In today’s world of computers to make research easier for most of us I don’t imagine a “conservative” Amish group would utilize a computer so just how do they go about gathering information before they pick a location?
Blessings, Alice
South Dakota Amish
Do they pay for reference services?
Having just completed another reference class (for my LTA certificate), I’m wondering if they don’t pay for reference services(like other “researchers” do in the medical/science fields)…or even have “English” friends do the internet searches for them for free? Do they use Realtors? I guess it would depend on their particular group, and how conservative they really are. I don’t see how different it is (having the English do research) from being driven in cars to distant towns for medical appts., or visiting.
Like you, Alice, I’m interested in what it takes to decide to move to a very different location. Who decides? The Bishop? Who is “allowed” to settle elsewhere…or, are you TOLD you have to go?
I’ll be watching for comments on this topic!
Alice Mary
South Dakota Amish
Scouting new settlements
Alice and Alice, thanks for kicking off the comments on South Dakota Amish
Alice A they would probably make a scouting trip, which is something you see the Amish do going back hundreds of years. Of course it’s easier now with public transport and cars to be hired. In some cases in the past Amish have bought land sight unseen but often they like to get a sense of what they’re getting into, which I could understand
Interestingly land agents would often target Amish and Mennonites to settle an area as they were seen to be good for the local economy. So you would have handbills and ads directly marketing to Plain people, in both English and German.
South Dakota Amish
Amish real estate agents
Alice M, on realtors, yes some Amish do use real estate agents. There is an interesting section on this in the book Amish Paradox.
What’s funny is you actually have a few Amish actually even becoming real estate agents. I remember seeing this occupation in an Amish directory a number of years back, which surprised me at the time, but now, not really.
As to reference I am not sure I have a good answer b/c not exactly sure what type of info you mean…but Amish will of course use public libraries, and some have internet access in other ways (cell phone, non-Amish workplace). But certainly not all or even most do, and you might have someone getting some help from an English person. I’ve looked up stuff online before for an Amish friend.
The decision to resettle is really a personal one, based on any of a number of factors. Could be for better economic opportuniy, less congested area, or simply to found a church with Plainer standards.
South Dakota Amish
Hey Erik,
Even before the scouting trip to check it out, what would give the idea to go to a particular area? Especially one where there are no Amish there to begin with?
I can understand the land agents targeting plain people to move to an area. But aside from that, I really don’t think they throw a dart at a map and then think “let’s go check it out.” After all, even though they can hire drivers and such its still a lot harder for them to just pick up and go than it would be for us “English”.
Alice Mary brought up a good point about possibly having some research it for them.
I guess my own desire to move someday and doing a lot of research of other areas has led me to these questions. I know I can’t afford to just pick some place on a map then take a scouting trip. That is a big investment in time and money to not have a pretty good idea before hand that I would probably like the area.
Alice
South Dakota Amish
How Amish find a new place to live
Good point Alice A, you may hear of an area which is popular among other Amish groups, for instance. Like in New York, Karen Johnson-Weiner describes in her book at least a couple of cases where Amish groups settled near (but not too close) a pre-existing community that was of a different affiliation.
It’s a good question though. I’m sure there is research that would go into it in many cases. You’d really want to know what land prices are, will there be a ready market for your milk, and if you’re lucky what you might expect from non-Amish locals.
I’m also sure some have noticed areas while on trips to other places–settlements or even say a hunting vacation–which has led to the idea to relocate. If I recall correctly I believe that is what happened with the Lancaster Amish who ended up in Wayne County, Indiana in the 1990s.
South Dakota Amish
I imagine they would have to research for a long time. I know I sure have and I am still not sure where I would move to if I had the opportunity and the money, LOL.
Thanks Erik!
SD Amish
When our forefathers came to SD, the realators advertised in English and in German to get the immigrants from Europe to come here. I question the advertising in German to entice Amish today, as all Amish speak English remarkably well, even without accent, unlike the many Hutterites already in SD.
I would say part of that is the Amish have much interaction with “the world” unlike the Hutterites who live isolated on communes far from town.
Thousands of Amish come through SD every year to doctor at the famous Ortman Clinic in Cansistota so this is how Amish were familiar with this area and they struck a deal with a local auctioneer I believe in getting their land to settle here. After the first year, they’ve already had a family sell out to an “English” man and they’ve left SD.
I’m sure to many Amish who come from places with high land prices, SD land prices seemed reasonable but the Dakotas do not have the climate that eastern states have. That’s why Amish settlements in the northern Dakota failed.
South Dakota Amish
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