Or maybe I should revise the above headline to read where AREN'T there Amish communities in Kentucky?
Reader Connie recently asked me what seems like a simple question: " would like to know all the Amish community that are here in Kentucky?"
I was starting to write her a note back, but then I thought geez if I am going to write such a long answer, I might as well share it with everyone. So, Connie, here is my loong answer to your question!
See, the question of "what Amish communities are in Kentucky" isn't as simple as it would seem. Because what exactly qualifies as Amish? Below is a sort of my take on Kentucky's Amish but I'd love to hear from others who can build out this Kentucky list.
Jump to:
Christian County, Kentucky
Christian County is home to a whole bunch of different denominations of Amish from very conservative to the "electric Amish" of Crofton that use horse and buggies but also allow electric lights in their homes.
Hart County, Kentucky
(Munfordville-Cub Run): The Amish around here have strong Lancaster County ties, first coming here in the early 90s. They maintain many of the styles of dress and dialect that you'd find in Lancaster.
Logan County
You have more and more Amish moving into this county. Auburn has been the flashpoint of fights over horse manure clean-up.
Todd County, Kentucky
Notable about Todd County's Amish population is the Swiss settlement near Guthrie. This Amish community has close ties to the Amish of Berne, Indiana.
Crittenden County, Kentucky
There is a large Amish community outside of Marion, Kentucky.
These are the "big ones" in Kentucky, but there are other small settlements.
Vanceburg, Kentucky
There is a small, traditional Old Order Amish community in Mason County, Kentucky.
Mays Lick, Kentucky
This is a more progressive Amish community that has some "communal tendencies" , but it is an Amish settlement.
Caneyville, Kentucky
This is not an Amish settlement, but they are Plain, meaning they use horse and buggy, and don't have electricity
Crab Orchard, Kentucky
This is a horse and buggy Amish settlement, but this one is a bit more progressive than some places. This community is on my list of places I'd like to visit this year!
Annville, Kentucky
I am hearing that there is a brand new community near Annville in the eastern hills of the state.
There are also Beachy Amish Mennonite Plain communities in diverse places like Leitchfield, Cynthiana, and Providence. This is a pretty exhaustive list. The southeastern mountains of Kentucky are where there is the least Plain presence in Kentucky, That, however, is even slowly changing. I think this is a pretty comprehensive list, Kentuckians, did I leave any out?
Carolyn Frank
Casey County has had a well-established Amish society for over thirty years, with several retail businesses. "English" folks from Lexington and Danville make a day of it and enjoy the shops and The Bread of Life Cafe.
New Amish communities have sprung up in Gravel Switch and Hustonville.
Kevin
Thank you, Carolyn, I am not sure if I knew that or not..Thanks!
Carol
There is a Mennonite community and also some folks that are connected to the Charity Churches in the Scottsville and Liberty, Ky area. I know you were writing about Amish communities but thought someone might be interested in this info also. At least some of the families in these areas have connections with the Muddy Pond/Clarkrange/Crossville, Tn communities.
Kevin
Carol, thank you for that...One of these days I'd love to visit the Muddy Pond community!
Carolyn
My brother and his wife took me to Bowling Green Ky. while visiting them several years ago.
We visited a stand where they sell jams,honey etc. It was amazingly beautiful. A couple women and some children jumped out of a buggy and ran for their gate. They were dressed in full Amish attire. Not being familiar with their rules, I asked the gentlemen working the stand if I could take their picture and they said "no" so of coarse I respected that. That started my fascination with these great people. Thank you Keven for all your input and hard work.
Kevin
Carolyn, so glad you got to experience Amish culture first hand, I wasn't sure if you had ever been able to...perhaps one day they'll try again in Washington! - Kevin
Richard Keel
We went to dinner tonight at the recently remodeled Steak-N-Shake here in Georgetown, KY . While getting our beverages a large group of Amish came in. A short while later one of the men asked if we knew where the nearest Amish Community might be found. We did not, So, we sat searching with our phones. I even phoned the local Scott County Sheriff's dispatcher and he did not know. I then tried the state police, but after ten tries and a persistent busy signal I gave up. So now I am at home and the search for "Kentucky Amish" has brought me to your web pages. Should I find myself attempting to find an answer to that question again, I now know where to come. I would suggest you consider adding a map with locations flagged. Thank you for this educational and well done web site. -- rk
Kevin Williams
Thanks for stopping by Richard, I need to update the page. You're right, a map would be great. I think I might look into making maps of the different states with Amish locations marked on them, that is a super idea. To my knowledge, the closest Amish settlement to Georgetown would be near Cynthiana, but I know little about that group. They are pretty conservative.
Susan
Members of the Amish community in Nicholas County near Carlisle were among the first to offer hands-on help following terrible middle-of-the-night flash flooding which took a life and left many homes severely damaged or destroyed on July 30. I went to Carlisle yesterday to check in with friends whose house was badly damaged, and to offer sandwiches, chips and fruit to anyone dealing with the flood's aftermath. A group of eight young Amish men were working to clear the enormous piles of debris left by the flooding Brushy Fork from backyards along East Main Street, one of the worst-impacted areas. When I offered these young men sandwiches, they politely said they'd already eaten - but they were happy to get potato chips!
They're being the Hands of God in the World right now, as are many others voluntarily helping out in hard-hit Nicholas County.
Kevin Williams
Thanks, Susan, good to hear about such selfless actions by the Amish in that area, thanks for sharing with us!