West Virginia shares borders with two states full of Amish–Pennsylvania and Ohio. But the Mountain State has just a small Amish population.
Read more in the new State Guide entry: West Virginia Amish.
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Ive only been to west Virginia only one time while on my way to ohio, with Ohio only being a one time thing as well. I could see an Amish settlement in WV, alot of land with a small population of people. Richard from Lebanon county’s Amish community.
I would have thought that the little winding and narrow valleys that I saw during my only trip to West Virginia would make travel difficult for the Amish and make any farming that they might pursue more difficult. Have heard that some of those valleys have really rich & fertile soil though.
I’d bet it is a bear to be out on those narrow roads in a horsedrawn buggy knowing that a logging truck or a coal truck could come around the curve at any moment and run slap over you.
What to do?
A bit off topic, but I am soon traveling to the Amish settlements in Ohio, Millersburg area. Where should I stay and what should I see? Any information would be nice. I am also heading to Lancaster County after Millersburg, so any help there would also be welcomed. Thank You in advance
staying in homles county
Hi Tom, if you are going to Millersburg, then stay at Zinck’s Inn, in Berlin. Its always clean, friendly and great prices. They actually have three different places to stay at. So check them out online. You must see Behault in Bunker Hill, truely a breathe taking experience about the Amish/Mennonite and Hutterites. They have a mural that is Heavenly to see. For dinner go to Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen, in Mt. Hope, you can take the 241 from Millersburg to MT. Hope, nice and scenic, winding roads, then take county rd 77 to Behalt (3 miles), and then Berlin is right there. Best of Luck, Marie B from Windsor Ontario Canada
Thank You
Hi Marie,
Thank you for the advice. I will be sure to stop those places on my visit.
Great Article
In regards to religion, West Virginia has a long and storied Baptist and Methodist tradition. That’s probably why there’s not many Amish living in the Mountain State?
Why so few Amish in West Virginia?
Phil it’s an interesting question which doesn’t have a one-pronged answer but in some sense you may be right in that historic migration patterns took Amish and other Anabaptists elsewhere. Amish have moved into Bible Belt areas in large numbers however (Kentucky, Missouri). Why more Amish don’t migrate to West Virginia today perhaps has something to do with agriculture, land and economy as well?
Thank you for your timely and informative response. West Virginia and Kentucky are similar in landscape and economics. Not identical of course, but close. Coal is still a driving force in both states, although it’s taken a hit in the last couple of decades. My family has a large farm in West Virginia going back several generations, and it has always been a fertile producer. I know most people don’t think of West Virginia as an agricultural paradise. That’s because they’re too busy looking up at the mountain tops and not down in the hollers. 🙂
Phil I can imagine WV has some good agricultural possibilities. I wonder if Amish are aware of that though. There are a few communities there, and some Amish in Appalachia counties of Ohio and Kentucky which would probably be comparable.