Ohio Has Over 86,000 Amish — These Are the State’s 10 Biggest Communities
Ohio is home to America’s second-largest Amish population, with over 86,000 Amish living across the state.
These ten communities rank as the biggest in Ohio, based on the most current Amish population estimates.
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: 39,040
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: 21,530
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: 2,650
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: 1,340
Settled by brothers from Somerset County, Pennsylvania in the 1970s, this community spans Morrow and Knox counties and has grown to 14 church districts in size.
5. Kenton/Mt. Victory
Kenton/Mt. Victory (Hardin/Marion Counties)
Community founded: 1953
Total Amish population: 1,310
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: 1,025
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. Ashland/Shiloh
Ashland/Shiloh
Community founded: 1954
Total Amish population: 995
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.
8. DeGraff
DeGraff (Logan County)
Community founded: 1994
Total Amish population: 965
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.
9. Martinsburg/Utica
Martinsburg/Utica (Knox/Licking Counties)
Community founded: 1987
Total Amish population: 885
Spanning Knox and Licking counties in central Ohio, the Martinsburg/Utica community is another very traditional Swartzentruber Amish settlement.
10. Lakeville
Lakeville (Holmes County)
Community founded: 1962
Total Amish population: 860
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.
Population numbers sourced from the Young Center (Elizabethtown College) Amish Settlement List.
