This question got a lot of interesting responses on the Amish America Facebook page this weekend. Four years ago, I wrote about my top 5 Amish settlements. Is that post still valid? Since then, I’ve visited around 20 more communities. But I’d say yes–with maybe one or two changes. So what’s your favorite Amish community? For ‘bonus points’, tell us why! NY Amish photo: las-initially
Mention “Ohio Amish”, and most people think of the large settlement at Holmes County, or perhaps Geauga County to its north. But just a short ways down the road from the large Holmes settlement lies an often-overlooked but sizeable Amish community. Amish have lived in Ashland and neighboring Medina County for nearly sixty years. Ashland and Medina County Amish About 2,000 Amish live here, in…
I know it’s a bit late for snowy photos, but I wanted to share one more batch of shots from the Big Valley area of Pennsylvania. Big Valley is home to three Amish groups: Nebraska, Renno, and Byler Amish. If you missed the first set, here are the original 10 views of Big Valley Amish. And…
I hope you enjoy these shots of an Amish settlement in Hardin County, Kentucky, taken a while back on a beautiful summer day (note: this first photo is not an Amish place, but is from a nearby town; all the rest are Amish). More Kentucky Amish posts: Munfordville, Kentucky Amish Graves County, Kentucky Amish Kentucky Amish…
Continuing the “10 views” series, today we have photos of Juniata County, Pennsylvania. A couple months ago we had a post on the Juniata County Amish. This community is one of the many lesser-known Pennsylvania settlements. With 8 church districts, it’s actually a pretty sizeable one. That’s about 1000 Amish, give or take. But Juniata County is overshadowed by nearby Big Valley, nearly 4 times…
Following up last week’s look inside a New York Amish living room, we have a couple more photos of an Amish home interior, courtesy of SUNY-Potsdam anthropology professor Karen Johnson-Weiner. These shots were taken in a home in the Swiss Amish settlement in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Swiss Amish tend to be fairly plain, and I think this interior reflects that. A few things jumped out…
Beth Russo has kindly shared 10 photos of the Amish settlement at Bowling Green, Missouri (Pike County). Beth recently made a trip during which she visited an Amish woodworking shop and a beekeeper. You can find more of her photos on her Facebook page. Bowling Green is the oldest Amish settlement in Missouri, founded in 1947. There are a total of 3 church districts and…
Delaware may be our first state, but examining a US map today, it’s easy to overlook. The average state in America consists of 63 counties; Delaware, with the fewest of all, has just three. The “one in the middle”, Kent County, is home to the second largest city and state capital, Dover. Just west of Dover city limits you’ll find Delaware’s only Amish settlement, a community…
Following up 10 views of Lancaster County, here are 10 photos from another Pennsylvania Amish settlement. Big Valley, officially known as Kishacoquillas Valley, is home to the second-largest Amish community in Pennsylvania. Big Valley is located in Mifflin County in central PA. Here you’ll find three distinct Amish groups–Nebraska Amish (white-top buggies), Renno Amish (black top) and Byler Amish (yellow). The valley is truly a…
Halifax County on the NC/VA border in southern Virginia is home to a tiny Amish community. On my recent Amish trip I paid a brief visit. Halifax County is one of just 4 Amish communities in Virginia. If you missed it I shared some photos of one of the others here: Charlotte County, Virginia Amish. The Halifax County community was founded in 2005, and is…