I came across something that got my attention while searching for Amish homes to share with you. Right now there are at least 7 Amish homes for sale in the community at Hillsboro, Kentucky (Fleming County).

#1
What’s going on here? It looks like a lot of people are moving out of the area for some reason. This settlement is a small one, but not that small – three church districts. It’s also fairly well-established – here since 1999 (hat-tip to Joe Donnermeyer).

#2
So it is not that this is a fledgling community whose residents soon came to the decision their choice of location didn’t suit them. With three churches, that would be in a likely range of 60 to 100 households in this settlement. So seven homes up for sale is not a huge chunk of the community (assuming there are no others listed elsewhere).

#3
Still there must be a reason these homes have gone on the market. Several are quite recent additions – listed within the last few months – and most of the rest went on the market in the last year or two, and are still up for sale.

#4
Amish migrate for different reasons. Perhaps the families here found better economic opportunities elsewhere. Perhaps there were church-related or other troubles here. A major conflict over the SMV triangle on buggies took place in Kentucky – but that was years ago. I am not aware of any recent public conflict in the news here.
Perhaps this segment of families have decided to start a new community together elsewhere in a location they’ve found more attractive, for whatever reason. I passed this along to Joe Donnermeyer, who adds:
I decided to double check the status of the men, and one of those was a deacon and another was a bishop. This lends weight to the idea that these families started a new settlement somewhere.

#5
So as I wrote in the last post, the story behind an online Amish listing is always something of a mystery. In this case the mystery takes in at least seven Amish households.

#6
I don’t know which is the parent community, or the other affiliated communities of this settlement. However, Joe also mentions that there is a 2019 Kentucky Amish Directory, which includes this and 10 other settlements. Being in the same directory often suggests the communities are of the same affiliation or in fellowship with one another.
This is a group on the more traditional side, as evidenced by things like the furnishings in the homes, lighting, and their general plainer appearance. Another sign of a plain Amish place: the “interior details” section lists the number of bathrooms as “0”.
I’m not going to look inside all of these, but let’s take a look inside of this one today (via Zillow):

#7
From the description:
This beautiful Amish home is nestled against the rolling hills of KY! You can enjoy the beautiful view from the wrap around porch while enjoying the breeze. Master bedroom located on the main level and six bedrooms upstairs. The kitchen and main living area are very spacious. There is a little over 62 acres that is fenced and ready for your enjoyment. The property also offers a pond, city water has been connected to the home and electricity is available.
So this one has already been equipped with a city water connection, though if you want a proper bathroom, that will take some extra work. Though this family seems to have found a halfway solution, read on to find out what I mean…
A few more views from outside:
That is a nice long wraparound porch:
This family uses its porch space well. On this side you’ve got an outdoor canning stove, and freezer.
Over here, a washer.
Not to mention the ample seating options.
Looking inside, the kitchen and dining area:
Some closer shots. Very neatly organized place. I like the blue lamps. What other details do you notice?
Stove area.
A sink area. This appears to be a different part of the house.
The sitting room.
Here are a couple more views of the same room, taken with flash.
Mini-rocker for a smaller occupant:
Note the cane with the saw handle. There also looks to be a lighting source behind the blue upholstered chair.
Staircase:
Bedrooms. First a teenage boy’s room. Hunting and outdoor theme as well as Native American decor. These are all popular motifs with many Amish youth:
These next two rooms are quite gloomy in appearance, owing to the windows being covered.
Windows are also covered in this nook area. Looks like this family must enjoy Pictionary and probably other board games. Some call them bored games.
This appears to be an “indoor outhouse”:
The canning storage area has a cave-like feel. Is this part of the home or a different underground structure?
Here’s what looks like more of a traditional basement
Water source:
A circular wringer washer:
Back outside:
A large kettle and what looks to be a freezer.
Basketball hoop by a storage building.
Barn.
And finally a nice view of garden and hills.
This particular home and its 62-acre property is on the market for $189,000. There are 7 bedrooms, 0 bathrooms, and the home is 2,528 square feet in size.
It’s been listed for 599 days, so this is one of the longest-listed of the group. It’s probably not the easiest to sell a non-electric home without traditional plumbing, much less a half-dozen+ of them. But I wish the families the best.
I plan to return to this community here, with looks inside one or two of the other homes. If there is one from the remaining 6 photos above you are curious about seeing, let me know in the comments.
You might also like:
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Worth a chance
Not a bad price, actually, considering the acreage and condition of the house. It looks like water is already onsite and just needs bathrooms created/plumbed. Electric would be more expensive and difficult, not not impossible. Beautiful wood floors. Too bad I need a ranch style home (knees are shot), but a younger couple might consider it. Lots of space and a great place to raise kids. Good luck to them.
7 Amish Homes For Sale In One Community
Regarding electrical…I wonder if these homes (if acquired by non-Amish families) might be candidates for off-the-grid solar power?
Homes For Sale
Do the Amish own there homes and Land there.
Thought a community were closer together.
So these Amish own there acres of Land. The taxes
Must be quite high.
Could someone set this straight. I’m not understanding
Why they would leave it’s very odd
Moving Amish from Community `
Dear Sir,
I was told by an Amish friend that normally every 9 Or 10 years several families are required to relocate to keep the blood line clean for marriages. Recently our community,Ethridge, had several families move to McMinnville, Mississippi, etc for this reason. I don’t know how they are selected but you might check with their local Bishop. He normally directs these things and keeps up with bloodlines.
Respectfully,
J H Raburn
Bishops and bloodlines
Mr / Ms Raburn, maybe so. A lot less fuss, though, to send the youngie to a different settlement for maud or knecht work, let them find their partners there, than to uproot a whole family — or several whole families. I suspect your informant had a twinkle in his / her eye when that information came your way.
Do you know why they are relocating. They have big beautiful homes. But unless you have several children they are too large.
Well we were speculating on that in the text I shared in the post. Joe Donnermeyer seems to think that since bishop and deacon are among the sellers, that this group left to start a new community elsewhere. The reason for the leave could be church troubles or disagreements or perhaps economic reasons. Or something else.
Bathrooms
Dear Friends
Can you very kindly explain to me the absence of bathrooms in Amish homes, please?
Many thanks and kind regards, Robin
No indoor bathrooms
Some communities just don’t have indoor plumbing. Homes in Holmes County and Marion and Evart MI (offshoots of a Holmes Co district) have regular bathrooms. Berne Indiana has outhouses only. And hand pumps in the kitchen for water in the home I was in there. There are groups started by different Bishops and the Bishops make the rules for the community. Just like some can ride bicycles, and some can’t. There’s not always rhyme or reason to the rest of the world.
Want to hear Amish side of story.
Would this move have anything to with the Amish not using city electric?
Having no bathrooms and in door running water?
Are these families being run off of land and away from their homes. Look at these homes some not even finished. These people didn’t do all this work, just walk away. No I don’t believe the story you’re telling. Nothing personal I’m sure someone told you the story first.
Reason for selling
The owners of this house are early sixties, and retired about the time they put the house up for sale. I think they will be moving to one of their kids home when this one sells.
computer question re photos
Can someone explain how to get these pictures to come through the computer? Up to
a short time ago pictures came through automatically. Now no pictures come through
with the wording that is given. Step by step, please, if you are computer savvy. Would be
grateful for any help.
Br. J.
Interested in Amish properties
Hello, could you please email me information about the properties that remain for sale on the Amish community? I’m interested in knowing all the details. I can’t see well on this website for some reason. I am using my phone so it makes it a little bit difficult. I am very interested in the properties and would like to know the various properties and the prices. Thank you so very much, respectfully laura padilla
Amish homes for sale
If you can send any additional information on the homes> Also where the families are moving to, I work with Amish folks. Thanks,
Additional info
Hello Kevin!
Could you please email me additional information in this property? Husband and I are interested. Thank you!
We made the move
For those of you looking for information about these houses I would try checking realtor.com we bought one of these Amish homes and that was where it was listed. Check for both Hillsboro, and Flemingsburg, as our place was listed in one town in some listings and the other town in other listings that we checked on. We viewed the house May 24th, closed on August 3rd, and were able to move in October 22nd. That is after putting in a septic, plumbing, electricity, and HVAC. We We love our little house. Thank you Eric for having posted these photos on your website. We are starting a new phase of our lives here in Kentucky.
Interested in property
I am interested in this property was wondering where it is located?
Try these
Realtor.com Flemingsburg, and Hillsboro KY
Also try Story Realty Flemingsburg.
I want to buy Amish House in America
Hey, thanks for sharing these pictures here, I would love to buy one of them, so please let me know if there are any Amish houses for sale.
Amish Homes
https://www.storyrealtyky.com/default.asp?content=expanded&search_content=office_listings&this_format=0&mls_number=38048&page=2&sortby=10&sort_dir=asc
That is the only active listing at the moment. There is also one pending, listed on realtor.com.