Amish in Colorado
The handful of Amish settlements found in Colorado are part of a general trend of westward Amish migration.  Amish have relocated in Colorado for economic reasons, with land in the Centennial State being much cheaper than acreage back East. Amish migrants to the Centennial State have set up numerous small businesses, among them woodworking shops.
The lure of adventure has probably also played a role. Â “There was a pull to move to the wild West” explained one Missouri native on her group’s reasons for migrating.
Read more in the new State Guide entry on Colorado Amish.
Another state that id love to travel to, with lots of beautiful mountains so what’s not to love. I’m also pretty sure the Amish wont be going much more west like into California with its very high taxes and high cost of living, now I’m not sure about Nevada, but can you grow anything there except maybe a bar tab or your credit card bill?. Richard from http://www.Amishstorys.com
Richard:
I live in AZ and the ground is the same as in Nevada. Yes you can grow alot here! Just have to learn how to use this different soil. Its harder ground here and you have to use alot more fertilizer and things to get stuff to grow, but we can grow a nice garden in the desert. We have gardens all year long here!
I have enjoyed my fruit tree’s and my little garden here. We have alot of farmers here both cattle and agriculture type. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Amish come back this way again. Even into Nevada. Towards Tahoe, would be better for them as it snows and more like they are used to.
We have snow here in AZ. as well at times and up in the mountains!
Amish Fiction novels with Colorado setting
Because of this trend of Amish migration to Colorado, Beth Wiseman has started a series of novels with the San Luis Valley as the setting for her fictional Amish community of Canaan. Seek Me With All Your Heart is book #1 and her most recent release, The Wonder of Your Love is book #2. Both books are available at most Christian, traditional and online booksellers.
i love beth wiseman’s books and can not wait to read these.. i love reading amish stories period, and have a few favoritte aurthors i read. I will have to search for these from Beth.
who wouldnt want to move to Colorado? it is BEAUTIFUL there, been there once when i was a young girl on vacation.
Not sure how the folks in Colorado, Amish or otherwise would pronounce Conejos County, but that is a Spanish word. It is pronounced CO-nay-hoe(s). It means rabbit(s)!
Kuh-NAY-hohs is how we pronounce it. Glad to see the Amish in CO~I need a garage built! 😉
LOVE TO SEE SOME AMISH IN IDAHO. LOTS OF OPEN SPACE.
I have been under the impression Colorado has been popular as an Amish (or plain people in general) vacation destination as well. Every time I’ve visited I’ve seen many plain folk at all the big tourist attractions like Pike’s Peak and Royal Gorge. I remember being fascinated with a large Amish gathering near our hotel in Manitou Springs…it seemed to be mainly retirees, relaxing in lawn chairs next to a bubbling brook.
@ Bonnie Campbell; I’m not real good at spelling things the way that they should sound … phonetics, especially if it is in a foreign language. I think you got it closer than I did though. Of course where I live ENGLISH is becoming a foreign language.
I have been to Colorado many, many times over the past 16 years, as my son lives there, along with my daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, just southwest of Denver. And I’ve traveled the beautiful state extensively but never realized there were Amish there until I came across an article about 6 months ago – and to think, the last time we were out there we were very close to them near Alamosa – but I didn’t know about them nor see any at the time.
So you can just imagine where we’ll be heading the next time we go out to visit!
The one area where the Amish are located, around and below Alamosa, is a depressed area and a bit desert-like, so I’m surprised the Amish would choose to settle there. Monte Vista might be a little better, but I imagine the best spot is the one in Westcliffe, up in Custer Co., as from that whole area on up is just absolutely gorgeous.
BTW, when we were last in Lancaster and took a buggy ride with Aaron & Jessica’s out front of the Plain & Fancy Farm on Rt. 340, we asked our Amish driver if he had heard about the Amish now living out in Colorado, and he seemed so stunned and surprised by it that he kept bringing it up and shaking his head over it the whole ride. Wonder if he was secretly wishing to be part of the old wild west, too?
Most people think of CO and mountains, but the Eastern half of the state is high plains. I’m sure cost was a driving factor to settle around Alamosa, and yes, it’s pretty stark there. You have to learn to see the beauty in many areas of the high desert plains~it’s an acquired taste. lol Water is the biggest concern though. Water is the real gold in the west and highly controlled.
And yes, OldKat, so many place names have regional pronounciations, so you just never know until you talk to a local sometimes. 😉
Erik, thanks for bringing this to our attention. I had no idea! Do you know when the first Amish settled there, by any chance?
Saloma
First Amish in Colorado
Sure thing Saloma, looks like of the recent batch of Colorado settlements, the first was at Monte Vista in 2002, unless there’s one that came earlier and went that I’m missing, but I don’t think so.
The very first was founded in 1909 according to David Luthy. But not much in the roughly 100 years in-between.
fund raisers
have you set your dates for the fund raisers for the schools for 2021? there are many of us from south fork, colorado that make the dinners south of monte vista. thanks, larry
Sewing Machine
Hi!
I have an antique White peddle style (none electric)sewing machine desired by Amish! It was in the wife’s side of the family and none of the family members want it! She passed away this year and I believe she would like it to go the a good Amish home here in Colorado. We grew up in Ohio around the Amish and had good Amish friends in Wayne and Holmes Counties. Anyway, if a Colorado Amish family is interested, have them contact me!
Charles Slater
10646 Tabor Ct.
Westminster, CO 80021
Home Ph: 303-466-1274 Leave message!