11 Photos Giving A Captivating Glimpse of An Off-The-Beaten-Path Amish Community
Today Don Burke take us into one of Missouri’s many smaller Amish settlements. This one is at Harwood in Vernon County, MO.
Vernon County is in the western side of the state on the Kansas border.
These photos are a nice reminder that there are many more Amish locations out there besides the better-known, larger communities.
This community is currently at two church districts in size, and has grown to an estimated 235 people. It’s one of two in the county.
This photo set is some years old, so it was probably at least a few notches smaller when they were taken. Amish first settled here back in 2000, so it marks a quarter-century this year.
You can tell this is a quite rural part of the country, in part by the prevalence of gravel roads in these photos.
Going by the look of the buggies this isn’t the plainest Amish community, but nor is it the most progressive.
Here we see a church wagon parked outside a home. In all likelihood it’s there either prior to, or just following, a church service held at this home.
The Amish hold their services at their homes in large available spaces, such as basements or workshop spaces.
The large church wagons are used to transport benches and other items needed for service and the after-church meal. They’re typically pulled not by buggy horses, but by larger workhorses.
This appears to be a sawmill operation, a common occupation in some Amish communities.
Thank you to Don for the photo set. Missouri is currently home to over 60 separate Amish communities. Read more in the Missouri Amish state guide. See ya!
Nice
Was scrolling and taking in the nice photos and then………it’s over I wish it was longer!
You sure?
In my experience it is Mennonites in Vernon county. The Amish are further west, in Bourbon county, Kansas.
Comment
I didn’t know of any Horse-Buggy Mennonite living in Kansas….I only know Amish people out there. About how many live out there?
Yes, listed here: https://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/files/2025/06/Amish-Pop-2025_by-state-and-county.pdf
Other MO Amish
Do you have any photos or information about Amish in Lawrence Co., MO?