By Kevin Williams
It had been a little while (for me, anyway) since I had been to "Amish country" so I was itching to visit and yesterday I had the chance. Even after almost a quarter century I still enjoying visiting and exploring. Highland County, Ohio, located in the rural southwest/south-central part of the state has become a magnet for Amish families in recent years. Even as recently as 15 years ago there was no Amish presence in the county, but now the entire county has an Amish presence, from the most conservative to more progressive. Some Amish have even moved into neighboring Ross County.
Yesterday someone in the town of Greenfield told me that some Amish from Maine had recently bought some land outside the village of South Salem, Ohio. I drove east on State Route 28 east of Greenfield in search of this brand new settlement and I did indeed some see some shiny, brand-new looking "buggy signs" erected by the Ohio Department of Transportation, but I found no Amish families around the villages of South Salem or Lyndon. But I find the prospect of some Maine Amish moving to the area very interesting so I will continue to monitor that area.
With a limited schedule I decided to head for the larger Amish settlement south of Leesburg, Ohio. There I made some new friends, got some recipes,stories and photos that I will share in the days ahead. Pictured here is a buggy and cart I saw on rural State Route 11 south of Leesburg near Hardin Creek.
Stay tuned in the days ahead for more stories, recipes and photos from Highland County, Ohio's growing Amish settlement. I made some new friends and came away refreshed, as my visits to Amish country usually do for me!
hmchelen
The other day we drove through Stanwood MI. Looks like there were Amish farms there. There were clothes lines with clothes blowing in the breeze. The area looked so peaceful.
Lisa Siegwald-baird
I really enjoyed reading this as I was born in Greenfield,raised in Columbus. My sister is in Leesburg and much of my family are still around the Carmel,Bainbridge and Greenfield areas.I am so glad that the Amish community is growing in that area,bringing their business's there and becoming part of that beautiful area. Thank you so much for this awesome article Kevin !
Kevin
Thanks, Lisa, that is some beautiful country in the Leesburg-Greenfield area...I always enjoy it there and I may be returning soon!