Complete Guide to Somerset County Pennsylvania Amish Country

I have a lot of memories in Somerset County, Pennsylvania over the years. For travelers, you'll recognize Somerset as a beacon and oasis on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. If you're traveling east, Somerset is sort of the last major services stop for quite some time (Breezewood, anyone?). If you are traveling west, it's the final stop after a grueling grind on the seeming never-ending turnpike. There's a miasma of chain motels clinging to the highway and a few eateries in Somerset. I remember one particularly harrowing journey on a snow-covered turnpike as I was heading home from Lancaster County, I clawed and crawled my way into the Knights Inn there and bunked down for the night. Knights Inn is now on my list of one of the few chain motels I'll never stay at again for reasons I won't get into here.

But there's so much more to Somerset County than the turnpike stops. There's also a bucolic, peaceful Amish settlement in the beautiful hills south of Somerset that represents one of the most historically significant and unique Amish communities in North America.

The Amish Cook column appeared in the Somerset newspaper for years, so I was able to visit a few libraries in the county to give talks about the Amish. Always very fun to visit!

Historical Significance

Somerset County holds a truly special place in Amish history as the second-oldest continuously existing Amish community in North America. Founded in 1772 by Amish families from the Northkill Amish Settlement in Berks County, Pennsylvania, this community has been preserving Amish traditions for over 250 years. Only Lancaster County is older among existing Amish settlements.

What makes Somerset County historically remarkable is its role as the "vanguard of Amish settlers in the Midwest." The Amish from Somerset County became the seed settlement for most Midwest Amish communities, with families from here going on to establish settlements in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois. Many of today's large Amish communities, including Holmes County, Ohio and Arthur, Illinois, trace their origins back to Somerset County pioneers.

You'll find a mix of both traditionally Pennsylvania and Midwestern Amish last names in this settlement, such as Zook, Beiler and Byler, Kinsinger, Mast, Hochstetler, Yoder, Fisher, Wengerd, Slabaugh, Beachy and Peachey.

The Unique Meetinghouses

One of the most fascinating aspects of this Old Order settlement is that they actually have church meetinghouses. The vast majority of Old Order (and New Order) Amish worship in their homes. In Maine, the settlement of Unity has a church meetinghouse as does Oakland, Maryland, but Somerset County is unique among Pennsylvania Amish communities for this practice.

The Story Behind the Meetinghouses

Author Suzanne Fisher relates the reasoning for the meetinghouses this way: "Here's the story, the way I heard it: Years ago, coal miners would appear on Sunday at homes that were hosting church, eager for a free meal. The Amish grew tired of feeding the coal miners. By building a meeting house, that somehow discouraged the free loading coal miners."

Another version of this story provides more detail: "In the 1880's Somerset County had a lot of coal miners living in the area. Since they had no work on Sunday they made a nuisance of themselves at the homes where church was being held. They'd go into the orchards and throw apples around; also messing with the food in the basement."

The Meetinghouses Today

The community currently has four meetinghouses:

• Summit Mills Meetinghouse (built 1881) - one of the two original structures
• Niverton Meetinghouse (built 1881) - the other original structure
• Two newer meetinghouses (built 1987 and 1998)

Look how weathered these meetinghouses look and rather tiny. The windows are shuttered but they come off on church Sundays. The meetinghouse resembles a large Amish school building, with separate entrance doors for men and women, and a simple, plain white frame structure.

Historical Context from Reader Lisa Suit

Thanks to reader Lisa Suit, who provided valuable family background: "My Grandparents attended that church, my Grandpa was baptized there. That church district used to have two churches, the other is in Springs PA, only about 15 mins away from there. When the Old Order/Beachy Amish church split in the 1920's they decided to share church houses, and would alternate which group met at which church. I don't know exactly when that stopped, but now both churches are only Old Order churches. Wonderful, wonderful group of Amish in that area!"

Community Overview

Despite its historical significance and 250+ year heritage, the Somerset County Amish community remains relatively small compared to Lancaster County. The community is home to approximately 1,565 Amish residents spread across 11 congregations as of 2024. Though Somerset County and Lancaster County were founded at roughly the same time, the Somerset community has grown at a much slower pace.

The settlement is centered around the towns of Meyersdale and Springs, located in the southern part of Somerset County near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. The area is characterized by rolling hills and scenic rural landscape that has been carefully preserved by generations of Amish farming families.

Schools and Education

Thanks to Susan for sharing photos that show us glimpses of daily life, including shots of a schoolhouse and shed for the teacher's horse (a notable difference from some other communities where teachers might bike to school). These one-room schoolhouses serve the community's children and maintain the traditional Amish approach to education.

Amish Businesses to Visit

Somerset County may not be a major tourist destination like Lancaster County, but it offers authentic Amish goods and services through various local businesses. The community operates numerous businesses that cater to both local residents and visitors seeking genuine Amish craftsmanship.

Notable Businesses Include:

Peachey's Country Store

• Address: 3319 Rockdale Rd., Meyersdale, PA 15552
• Specialties: Wide selection of baked goods, including pies, cookies, dessert bars, and homemade chocolate items

Valley Brook Dry Goods

• Address: 6518 Mt. Davis Rd., Meyersdale, PA 15552
• Specialties: Fabrics and also carries books, including the community church directory

Hidden Valley Variety Store

• Specialties: Food items, books, and general variety goods

Greenhouses The community has a thriving greenhouse industry with nine greenhouses listed on the community greenhouse map (eight in Pennsylvania and one over the border in Maryland). These businesses are particularly popular and offer seasonal plants, flowers, and gardening supplies.

Business Directory Resources

The Meyersdale Public Library in Somerset County has a wonderful page devoted to area Amish businesses and a downloadable list too. The library serves as an excellent resource for visitors wanting to learn more about local Amish businesses and the community's history.

What Makes Somerset County Special

Unique Practices and Traditions

Somerset County has some fascinating variations that distinguish it from other Amish communities:

• Meetinghouse worship - nearly unique among Old Order Amish
• Refrigerators on back porches instead of in kitchens (no one knows why)
• Permission to use tractors in fields - unusual for Old Order communities
• Rich seed settlement history - source community for many other settlements

Geographic and Cultural Context

The community exists in one of Pennsylvania's most scenic areas, near Mount Davis (not too far from the Amish settlement in Maryland), the highest natural point in Pennsylvania at 3,213 feet. The mountainous terrain and rural isolation have helped preserve the community's traditional way of life while creating the practical need for meetinghouses (due to the challenging terrain for traveling to home worship services).

The area around Meyersdale is known as "Maple City" and hosts the annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival, founded in 1948. This celebrates the region's maple syrup tradition that dates back to indigenous peoples who first captured the sweet water from maple trees.

Visiting Information

Getting There

Somerset County is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, easily accessible via:

• Pennsylvania Turnpike - Somerset exits provide access to the area
• US Route 219 and other state highways connect to the Amish communities around Meyersdale and Springs
• The area is about 30 minutes from Somerset borough

What to Expect

Somerset County is not a tourist-oriented community like Lancaster County. This means:

• More authentic, less commercialized experience
• Fewer crowds and tourist buses
• Genuine interactions with local businesses
• Respect for privacy is especially important

Best Practices for Visitors

When visiting Somerset County's Amish community:

• Respect privacy - refrain from taking photographs of Amish individuals
• Shop at local businesses to support the community
• Be mindful that this is a working agricultural community, not a tourist attraction
• Visit the Meyersdale Public Library for historical context and business information

Seasonal Considerations

The community observes traditional holiday schedules, and many businesses close during religious holidays. The greenhouse businesses are particularly active during spring planting season.

Beyond the Amish Community

Meyersdale Area Attractions

Great Allegheny Passage

• 150-mile hiking and biking trail running between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cumberland, Maryland
• Passes directly through Meyersdale
• The renovated Western Maryland Railway station serves as a visitors' center and trailhead

Pennsylvania Maple Festival

• Annual celebration in late March
• Celebrates the area's maple syrup tradition
• Thousands of visitors come to the "Maple City"

Meyersdale Area Historical Society

• Located in the renovated Western Maryland Railroad Station
• Local history museum with railroad-themed artifacts
• Operational model train displays

Natural Attractions

Mount Davis

• Highest natural point in Pennsylvania (3,213 feet)
• Located in the southern part of Somerset County
• Offers scenic views of the surrounding area

Forbes State Forest

• Abundant hiking trails
• Beautiful natural scenery surrounding the Amish community

Historical Research Resources

The Meyersdale Public Library (I gave a talk there once!)serves as an excellent resource for those interested in deeper historical research:

• Pennsylvania Room focuses on Somerset County history with emphasis on the Meyersdale area
• Genealogy assistance available
• Local history collections including photographs and documents
• Special collections documenting the area's diverse heritage

The library has digitized numerous historical photographs and documents, including materials from the former New Republic newspaper and Pennsylvania Maple Festival archives dating back to the 1950s.

A Living Heritage

The Amish community in Somerset County is an old one, representing more than two and a half centuries of continuous presence in this beautiful corner of Pennsylvania. While I've passed through Somerset County on numerous occasions and even gave a talk once at the Meyersdale Public Library, this is one settlement that deserves more exploration and appreciation.

The Somerset County Amish community stands as a testament to the enduring nature of Amish culture and its ability to adapt while maintaining core traditions. As the second-oldest Amish community in North America, it offers a unique glimpse into Amish history and the evolution of their practices over time. While small in size compared to Lancaster County, its impact on the broader Amish world has been significant, and it continues to be a vibrant and distinctive part of Pennsylvania's cultural landscape.

For those seeking an authentic, off-the-beaten-path Amish experience, Somerset County provides exactly that - a window into a community that has preserved its traditions for over 250 years while developing its own unique adaptations to local challenges. It's not terribly far from many locations, so it should definitely be on your list for exploring Pennsylvania's rich Amish heritage.