This Amish buggy was clattering down the road near Fort Fairfield, Maine in the far northern part of the state. I visited there in 2015
By Kevin Williams
I’ve often wondered whether I’ve set some sort of world’s record for most Amish and Plain settlements visited. I mean, it’s possible, right? I actually looked once to see if it would be something that Guinness could document, but I don’t think this is something that fits in any of their category or criteria. Still, I’d be hard-pressed to think of anyone who has been to as many Amish settlements as I have been. I don’t say that as a boast, but just reality. I mean, if you think of how remote and rural some of these places are: Rexford, Montana; Beeville, Texas, etc…it’s unlikely an Amish person would go to all these different places, they usually just stick to areas where they have family ties and no Amish person would have family ties in so many different places. And if there is someone non-Amish who has been to all of these places, chances are I would have heard of him or her, because the roster of non-Amish people who study Amish people is fairly small. We all know one another or know of one another.
My list is probably actually longer (I’ll keep tweaking it and tinkering with it) because simply saying “Holmes County is quite a simplistic categorization. In Holmes County, I’ve been to church districts in Charm, Berlin, Loudonville, and others…so my list is longer than what shows here.
Also, what qualifies as “being to an Amish community.” I usually don’t count just driving through, I have to talk to someone. I usually like to talk to someone and find out how many church districts the settlement has. If I can do that, I count it as an official visit although, of course, I like to explore each place as long and as much as I can.
FLORIDA
Pinecraft (Sarasota)
INDIANA
Grabill, Indiana
Nappanee
Shipshewana
LaGrange
Berne
Geneva
Milroy
Wayne County
Daviess County
Switzerland County
ILLINOIS
Arthur
Flat Rock
IOWA
Hazleton
Kalona
KANSAS
Yoder
Hutchinson
KENTUCKY
Munfordville
Mays Lick
Leitchfield
Owen County (Amish-Mennonite)
MAINE
Patten
Smyrna
Unity
Fort Fairfield
MARYLAND
Oakland
MICHIGAN
Clare
Manton,
Marion
Sturgis-Colon
Reading
MINNESTOA
Harmony
MISSOURI
Clark
MONTANA
St. Ignatius
Rexford
NEW YORK
Cherry Creek
OHIO
Adams County, Ohio
Brown County, Ohio (Amish-Mennonite)
Covington, Ohio (Old German Baptist Brethren)
Belle Center, Ohio
Mt. Victory, Ohio
Plain City, Ohio
DeGraff, Ohio
Vinton County, Ohio
Highland County, Ohio
Holmes County, Ohio
Wayne County, Ohio
Ashland County, Ohio
Geauga County, Ohio
Preble County, Ohio (Old German Baptist Brethren)
Tuscarawaras County
PENNSYLVANIA
Fredonia
Lancaster County
Shanksville
WISCONSIN
Brodhead
Pardeeville
TENNESSEE
Ethridge
Whitesville (Amish-Mennonite)
TEXAS
Beeville
VIRGINIA
Pearisburg
Dayton (Old Order Mennonite)
CANADA
Aylmer, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
Lindsey, Ontario
6 Comments
nancy
you have missed a good one: franklin county, pa. and there is even a group there you have never discussed. old order river brethren.
Kevin
Nancy, yes, you are right…I know little about the Old Order River Brethren and would like to discuss them sometime!
Missy
I didn’t think I’d been to that many, but when I looked at your list, I’ve actually been to 21 including two you haven’t been to. (McBain and Evart, MI). I was surprised at how many I HAD been to. I wouldn’t have thought it was that many. Anyway, where next?
Kevin
Interesting….Yea, I keep thinking I’m missing something on my list…like I am overlookiog one or two, but if I think of them, I’ll add them…My next Amish settlement i visit may be the new one in Vermont…not sure, stay tuned!:)
Sue Winship
Kevin – thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into researching your articles. I am a nurse, and for many years, one of the nurses would cut out the Amish Cook article from the newspaper, and hang it up at the nurse’s station for all to read. You can imagine how long ago that was! Now, we continue to enjoy it on line. I just wanted you aware there is a large Amish settlement in Jamesport, Mo (northern Mo.). Stop by if you are every driving through. They’re very friendly. My brother sells them a lot of hay each winter for their horses. He says that they will be unloading the big bales with rope and horses, all the while talking with him about the weather forecast or upcoming crop season! Continue your good work! Sue
Kevin
Thank you for the kind words, Sue….Jamesport is probably the largest Amish settlement I’ve never been to…I definitely want to make it there someday!