• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Amish 365
  • About
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • Amish Marketplace
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Amish Recipes
    • Amish Culture
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Everything Amish » Plain Culture

    7 Plain Mennonite Communities I'd Like To Visit

    Published: Dec 5, 2016 · Updated: Dec 5, 2016 by Kevin Williams | 4 Comments

    By Kevin Williams

    Most Plain Mennonite churches are very closely connected to the Amish by family ties and theology.  You'll find Yoders and Stutzmans and Millers in the Beachy churches (most, but certainly not all, Plain Mennonite churches identify as "Beachy Amish Mennonite)  as much as you will among the horse and buggy Amish. Geographically, Plain Mennonite settlements can be found in far more states than horse and buggy Amish.  There is also wide diversity among the Mennonites from the more progressive sects to horse and buggy Mennonites that are almost indistinguishable from the Amish.

    LEBEC:   I am not sure how long this community has been there but, wow, had I known it was there back when my brother lived in Los Angeles in the early and mid-90s I would have made a point to visit.  This small Plain Mennonite community would be fascinating to visit just because of where it is.  This is a gorgeous area and being Plain in the southern California melting pot would make for a fascinating juxtaposition.  This was an article in the Ventura County paper from 8 years ago, I’m assuming most of it is still accurate….Click here to read. 

    BANGOR, CALIFORNIA:  There is another settlement of Plain Mennonites here. I have corresponded with some of the members of this church and they describe a menu that is very heavy on fish and regional foods.   Plus, this is a gorgeous, gorgeous area AND – big bonus – the Mennonites run a bakery there called the Bangor Bake Shoppe.  That alone would be enough to persuade me to visit sometime!

    WASILLA, ALASKA:  This town will always be associated with vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin who enjoyed a tenure as mayor there last decade, but it is also home to a community of Plain Mennonites who started the Northern Lights Mennonite Church.  Often the Amish eventually go where their Plain Mennonite brethren go, so I wouldn’t be shocked to one day see Amish attempt Alaska. But for now, you can get a slice of Plain in Wasilla.

    FRANKFORT, OHIO:  This is a horse-and-buggy settlement that is a “daughter community” of the large, sprawling horse and buggy community of Dayton, Virginia.  This is only about 75 minutes from and there is a bulk food store there, so I need to check it out sometime!

    BROWN COUNTY, OHIO:   Now I am aware of the Plain presence in the southern part of this county near Georgetown, but apparently very conservative horse-and-buggy Hoover Mennonites have recently moved to the northern part of the county only about an hour away from me.   That is on my list of one of the next Plain settlements I intent to visit!

    Mennonites in Texas: Quiet in the Land, a fascinating book!

    Mennonites in Texas: Quiet in the Land, a fascinating book!

    LOTT, TEXAS:   I really want to make it here some day.  In the heart of the Lone Star State you have a deeply rooted, very insular Plain Mennonite community.  This settlement and the one in Seminole, Texas are chronicled quite well in the book Quiet in the Land.  I have this book and it is a fascinating window into the world of "Plain Texas."

    RICH HILL, MISSOURI:  I'd love to explore this settlement a bit and really plumb its theological depths. Most Mennonite men, for instance, are clean-shaven, but in this community they are bearded.  And the Mennonites here use horse and buggy....I'm just curious as to what, theologically, separates this group from conservative Amish?
     

     

    « Super Amish in the News: Amish Honey Wheat Bread, Homemade Pimento, Hutterites, and More!
    The Amish Cook: Gloria's Graham Cracker Butterscotch Candy »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sheila Carter

      December 08, 2016 at 12:14 pm

      We have known most of the "horse and buggy" Mennonites at Frankfort , Ohio since they lived in Dayton. One of our friends there just fixed our well pump for us!

      Reply
      • Kevin

        December 08, 2016 at 12:31 pm

        Sheila - Great to hear that. Most all the Mennonites of Dayton I've met are just super people, so I can't wait to explore Frankfort soon, and that bulk food store! - Kevin

        Reply
    2. Jennie

      May 28, 2020 at 3:03 am

      I would love to know where Mennonite Communities live in Northern California. My dear friend, Shelly, spoke to me about her home there. Also a place called Cuddy Hall. I am just very curious about the culture and wanted to check it out. I am Christian and curious. Anyone have any info that would be helpful??? Thank you in advance. ????❤️????????????????

      Reply
      • Kevin

        May 28, 2020 at 3:43 pm

        Hi, Jennie, do you know where Bangor is? I think it is about an hour north of Sacramento, there is a Plain Mennonite settlement there, is that close?

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

    More about me →

    Latest Amish Recipes

    • What is Shunning? And Do the Amish Still Shun?
    • Amish Ham & Potato Skillet Supper
    • What Language Do The Amish Speak? (German or English?)
    • Amish Honey-Molasses Cake (Easy Sweet Treat!)
    dutchcrafters

    Download The "Almost Amish" Ebook

    Footer

    Footer

    About

    • About The Amish Editor
    • Download "Almost Amish" Ebook
    • Amish Communities
    • Amish Marketplace

    Contact

    • Work With Us
    • Contact

    *As a member of various affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2000 - 2020 Amish 365 | Powered by Touch The Road