The Amish population continues growing at a high rate, with over 410,000 Amish people living in America in over 700 communities. The Amish are currently found in 33 states. But which states have the largest Amish populations? Scroll on for the latest list, with figures by the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies (Elizabethtown College). 1. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Amish Population: 96,535 The Amish in…
Third Fret Harmony is another Amish music group that (at least) Rose of Ben & Rose has been a part of (and I think still is – though I am not sure). Like Ben & Rose, they are also working with producer Conrad Fisher, and I think you’ll recognize some of that flavor in this song. In this video, which I believe is their first…
A month ago, it was announced that a plea agreement had been arranged for Samantha Petersen, the driver in the crash which took two Amish girl’s lives in Fillmore County, Minnesota in 2023. Today, Petersen officially pleaded guilty. From KROC News: Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) – The former Stewartville woman who was behind the wheel of the SUV that smashed into an Amish buggy and…
Whom will you see at an Amish auction? Last month Jim Halverson gave us a look at an Amish auction in central Michigan – in the Beaverton area of Gladwin County, to be precise. Jim is so prolific in his photo-taking that we have an additional dozen photos from the event. As mentioned before, the community is a Swartzentruber group, but the auction drew some…
Eighteen-year-old Daniel Yoder of Miles Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania lost his life Saturday when his buggy was struck by a minivan. From Centre Daily Times: The driver of a 2023 Toyota Sienna hit the buggy about 5:50 p.m. Saturday on state Route 150 about a 1/2 mile north of Sayers Dam and Marsh Creek roads in Liberty Township, state police at Rockview wrote in…
A 21-year-old New York Amish man named Abraham Shetler lost his life in December 2023, when the buggy he was traveling in was struck by a pickup truck. A 19-year-old riding with him faced life-threatening injuries, but survived. Now, the driver who struck the buggy has been arrested – and will face charges. From localsyr.com: TOWN OF OSWEGATHCHIE, N.Y. (WWTI) – A 34-year-old Ogdensburg man…
Of all the Maine Amish communities (11 and counting), the Unity settlement has gotten the most media attention over the years – whether it’s about a beloved local market being rebuilt, “donut day“, ice harvesting, or a specialty meats business in the community. That’s why it’s neat to see this look at the community at Smyrna (Aroostook County) – and specifically some Amish food businesses…
After posting about the latest Horse Progress Days, held last week in Clare, Michigan, I was fortunate enough to receive not one, but two sets of photos from attendees of this year’s edition – from Jim Halverson, who many of you will recognize from frequent excellent photos here, and from Milo G. Miller, Publisher of the Budget newspaper. Some of you might be readers of…
Michigan, what is the deal? It seems like once or twice a month now we have another story of a serious car-buggy road wreck coming out of the Wolverine State – where Amish, of course, end up on the losing end. Reports are coming out over the past hour or two, out of Gladwin County, Michigan. Here’s the summary from abc12 News: GLADWIN COUNTY, Mich….
The Amish Acres complex in Nappanee, Indiana was a long-running and popular tourist destination in northern Indiana Amish Country. It offered a restaurant, theater shows, and Amish-themed tours and activities. I think it’s fair to say it was one of the best-known Amish-themed tourist attractions in the country, maybe “top five” even. After a 50-year run, the property was sold by its original owners in…