Ohio Has Over 87,000 Amish — These Are the State’s 10 Biggest Communities

Ohio is home to America’s second-largest Amish population, with over 87,000 Amish living across the state.
These ten communities rank as the biggest in Ohio, based on the most current Amish population estimates (2026).
Population numbers via Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College (source link at bottom).
1. Holmes County Area

Holmes County Area (Holmes, Wayne, Coshocton, Tuscarawas, Stark Counties)
Community founded: 1808
Total Amish population: 38,775
The second-largest Amish settlement in the country, behind Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Home to well-known tourist towns such as Berlin, Sugarcreek, and Walnut Creek, the settlement spans portions of five counties and is home to more than 300 church districts. The most diverse Amish settlement in terms of Amish affiliations, ranging from progressive to ultraconservative groups.
2. Geauga County Area

Geauga County Area (Geauga, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Portage Counties)
Community founded: 1886
Total Amish population: 22,125
Ohio’s second-largest Amish community spreads across four northeastern Ohio counties — Geauga, Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Portage — with Middlefield and Parkman among the towns at its heart. This settlement is well-known for, among other things, its maple syrup production.
3. Lodi/Homerville

Lodi/Homerville
Community founded: 1952
Total Amish population: 2,550
A Swartzentruber Amish community straddling three north-central Ohio counties — Ashland, Medina, and Wayne. Produce farming and cabinet-making are two of the main occupations of Amish living here.
4. Fredericktown

Fredericktown (Morrow/Knox Counties)
Community founded: 1973
Total Amish population: 2,090
Settled by brothers from Somerset County, Pennsylvania in the 1970s, this community spans Morrow and Knox counties and has grown to 15 church districts in size.
5. Kenton/Mt. Victory

Kenton/Mt. Victory (Hardin/Marion Counties)
Community founded: 1953
Total Amish population: 1,355
One of the plainer communities in the state, Amish in the Kenton settlement have seen conflict with state authorities over buggy markings and waste disposal in recent years. This group shuns the SMV triangle and electric lights common to most Amish buggies in the state, opting for a unique pattern of horizontal reflective bars.
6. Brinkhaven/Danville

Brinkhaven/Danville
Community founded: 1990
Total Amish population: 1,055
Founded in 1990, this community has grown to eight church districts. Brinkhaven/Danville is one of a half-dozen distinct Amish settlements located fully or partially within Knox County.
7. DeGraff

DeGraff (Logan County)
Community founded: 1994
Total Amish population: 1,000
Located in Logan County in west-central Ohio, the DeGraff community was founded by Amish from Steuben County, Indiana. It has a reputation as a plainer and more isolated group.
8. Ashland/Shiloh

Ashland/Shiloh
Community founded: 1954
Total Amish population: 955
Dating to 1954, this is one of the more established mid-sized Amish communities in the state. This group stands out for its gray reflective triangle design, used in lieu of the traditional orange SMV symbol.
9. Lakeville

Lakeville (Holmes County)
Community founded: 1962
Total Amish population: 875
Located in Holmes County but distinct from the main Holmes County Area settlement, the Lakeville community was founded in 1962 by Amish from the main Holmes community. It is one of several separate Amish settlements within Holmes County.
10. Hillsboro

Hillsboro (Highland County)
Community founded: 2006
Total Amish population: 840
Founded in 2006, the Hillsboro community in Highland County in southwest Ohio has grown to six church districts. It is one of three Amish settlements in Highland County, along with Peebles and a smaller community at Hillsboro/Marshall.
See also:
- Pennsylvania’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Ohio’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Indiana’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Wisconsin’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- New York’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Michigan’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Missouri’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Kentucky’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Iowa’s 10 Largest Amish Communities
- Illinois’ 10 Largest Amish Communities
Population numbers sourced from the Young Center (Elizabethtown College) Amish Settlement List.


Appreciate this List
Hi Erik,
I appreciate this list, thank you for compiling and posting it!
Since I am beginning a research project (actually restarting) on Amish communities, this will come in very handy.
I live in Williamsburg Virginia and on my way back to Illinois to visit my mom about few months, I plan on stopping by as many communities as I’m able.
Thank you,
Greg
Glad to hear it Greg – and if you need further communities, you may already know about the Young Center nationwide list, linked in the post. Recommended!
De Graff
You accidentally reused lakevilles photo for De Graff.
Thanks, fixed now. Had a DeGraff photo in originally but somehow got switched out.