The Empire State is known for so many wonderful things: New York City's center-of-the-world bustle, the Statue of Liberty, the rugged Adirondacks, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Niagara Falls just to name a few. The state isn't really known for its Amish, but it should be. New York State, once a sleepy backwater for the Amish, has become home to one of the largest populations over the past twenty years.
☑️ Why The Amish Like New York State
When people think of New York, they often think of the metropolis namesake first, but the state really has so much more to it and those are the reasons that appeal to the Amish. Among them:
Land: far from New York City, there is plentiful land and vacant farms at decent prices.
Farming: New York State offers a super climate for apple orchards, maple syrup production, potatoes, and other staples that the Amish can sell.
Proximity: New York State is right next door to the two states with the largest Amish populations: Pennsylvania and Ohio, so visiting family and friends and traveling to weddings and funerals is relatively easy with the proximity.
🗺️ Where are the Amish Communities in New York State?
When I first started studying Amish culture over 30 years ago, the main Amish "hub" in New York State was in the far western corner, a region known as the Conewango Valley, outside the city of Jamestown. The Conewango Valley is still home to the largest Amish population, but communities have popped up and thrived throughout the state since then. Well, actually, I think there have been some Amish for quite some time near Ogdensburg in the far North Country also. Some of the places you'll find the Amish and, no, it's not a typo on the list...the Amish live near Prattsburgh, not to be confused with the much larger and better-known Plattsburgh. Okay, here are some towns in New York State that are home to Amish or Amish-Mennonites:
- Belleville
- Belfast
- Bridgeton
- Burke
- Canastota
- Candor
- Centerville
- Chili
- Clymer
- Cobleskill
- Cuba
- Conewango Valley
- Dansville
- Greenwich
- Fultonsville
- Heuvelton
- Jasper
- Lyndonville
- Madison
- Medina
- Morris
- Upton
- North Lawrence
- Ogdensburg
- Oriskany Falls
- Panama
- Philadelphia
- Port Byron
- Prattsburgh
- Pulaski
- Romulus
- Sherman
- South Hammond
- Whitehall
- Willsboro
📖 What Sects of Amish Live in New York State?
They run the gamut from the ultraconservative Swartzentruber Amish that lives in the North Country to the very conservative Amish that lives in the Conewango Valley to the more progressive New Order Amish near Lyndonville and about every ideology/theology in between. There is even a community of "brown buggy" Amish that live near Cuba, New York. This is an offshoot of the New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Amish community.
🗽 The Amish in New York City
Of course, no Amish live in New York City, but it is a popular tourist stop for the Amish. Favorite places to visit include the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Staten Island.
Amish choirs and Amish-Mennonite singing groups have been known to serenade subway riders with their songs. You can watch a quick clip of one such group here.
There are also several "Amish markets" in NYC that are not Amish-owned but aim to bring Amish-style products and ambiance to the metropolitan masses.
🛒 Amish Businesses in New York State
There are hundreds and hundreds of Amish businesses in New York State, so much so that this section, which works well for other state guides, doesn't work as well here. Look, the best way to find the most authentic Amish businesses is to just explore. Go down the backroads of Amish settlements (the Conewango Valley in NY is great for this) and look for signs by the road advertising homemade honey, baked goods, or produce.
But there are some Amish businesses that are more established and here are a few. If you have a New York Amish business you can recommend, please shoot us a note and we'll add it to the list!
Belleville: Sharp’s Bulk Foods,8220 Rt. 289, a classic Amish-run bulk food!
Canastota: Troyer’s Country Store, John Troyer, 5518 Nelson Road, Canastota, NY 13032 Phone: (315) 655-0346
Services: Deli Bulk Foods, Farm Products
Hours: Mon. 9-6, Tues-Thurs 9-5, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 8-4, Closed Sundays
Centerville - Pine Grove Country Store,8473 County Road 3, Centerville NY 14029. A classic Amish country store with a variety of items!
Medina - Miller's Bulk Food & Bakery: 10858 Ridge Rd. Medina, NY 14103. This is a classic Amish bulk food and deli experience, absolutely worth checking out. Here is a Google reviewer: Wonderful Amish store that is well worth checking out. The quality of products you can find here is second to none. I was pleasantly surprised to see how low the prices was. Their meat department is small, but the meats they have available is really good. The deli department is known for their sandwiches, I didn't try one but I heard they are huge and for $4 you can't go wrong. Other items such as vegetables and bulk is fairly cheap as well, especially for the amount you get. I think I can get used to shopping here if I'm in the area.
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