What state has the largest Amish population?

Pennsylvania has the largest Amish population in the United States, followed by Ohio and Indiana, with Pennsylvania's large population centered in historic areas like Lancaster County, where the Amish first settled in America, according to sources from 2025 and earlier estimates. Ohio and Indiana also host significant Amish communities, making the "Old Order" Amish primarily concentrated in these three states, though they are present in many others, notes.

What are the top 3 Amish states?

The Amish have settled in as many as 32 US-states though about 2/3 are located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. The largest Amish settlement is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and adjacent counties followed by Holmes and adjoining counties in northeast Ohio, about 78 miles south of Cleveland.

Where is the largest Amish community in the United States?

Members of this conservative Christian faith came to Pennsylvania in the early 18th century to escape persecution in Europe for their Anabaptist beliefs. The Pennsylvania Amish community in Lancaster County is the oldest and largest Amish community in the United States, numbering about 43,500.

At what age do Amish girls marry?

Women's trends, while less pronounced, vary despite the fact that most women continue to marry at or before the age of 23. In fact, the averages remain between 20.0 and 22.5 years of age.

Do Amish ladies wear bras?

Do Amish women wear bras? If not, do they just go without? I don't know about all of them but the Amish community I came from 28 years ago did not wear any kind of bras. So yes, they just went without.

The 10 Largest Amish Communities

What must an Amish bride do on her wedding night?

The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)

Can Amish use condoms?

Therefore, the use of condoms by Amish men is strictly forbidden and condemned in most, if not all, Amish communities.

How many wifes can Amish have?

So to repeat, the Amish do not have more than one wife, or husband. Polygamy is not permitted according to Amish beliefs. And “Amish Polygamists” have never existed in their history. It has always been one man and one woman – that's the only acceptable form of marriage in the Amish church.

Who is the richest family in Pennsylvania?

Jeff Yass. Jeffrey Steven Yass (born July 1958) is an American billionaire businessman. According to Forbes, Yass has a net worth of US$65 billion as of December 2025 up from $27.6 billion in April 2024. The richest man in Pennsylvania, he is also the 25th richest in the world.

What is the best Amish town to visit?

The Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County are America's oldest Amish settlement, where tens of thousands still live a centuries-old "Plain" lifestyle. Experience Amish Culture in Lancaster by riding in a horse and buggy, dining at an Amish-owned restaurant, or taking an immersive tour of farms and homes.

What is the most strict Amish community?

The Swartzentruber Amish are one of the largest and most conservative subgroups of Old Order Amish. The Swartzentruber Amish are considered a subgroup of the Old Order Amish, although they do not fellowship or intermarry with more liberal Old Order Amish.

What are common Amish occupations?

Types of Amish-Owned Businesses

Amish are especially active in a few key industries. Construction and renovation are strong areas for the Amish, who do both residential and commercial work. Amish furniture makers and related wood industries are also very popular. Manufacturing is as well.

Do Amish people get social security?

Problem: Members of certain religious sects, most notably the Amish, do not accept Social Security or Medicare benefits, and the law consequently exempts them from the requirement to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes if their employers are also members of recognized religious sects.

What are common Amish last names?

I believe Miller is the most common Amish last name in Holmes County. Other common surnames are Troyer, Yoder, Schwartz, Hershberger, Schrock, Gingerich, Weaver, Schlabach, Bontrager, Raber, Coblentz, and Hochstetler. (Sometimes you will find slight variations in the spelling).

Do Amish allow outsiders to join?

Q: May outsiders join the Amish? A: Yes. Although the Amish do not actively evangelize, several dozen outside people have joined the Amish. Potential members must be willing to learn the dialect and accept the rules of the church in order to be baptized and become members of the church.

Is inbreeding common in Amish?

There is a high degree of inbreeding, resulting in a high frequency of recessive disorders, many of which are seen rarely or are unknown outside of this population. Extensive genealogical records are available, and the average family size is large.

At what age do Amish marry?

Amish boys and girls start looking for a partner as young as 16 years of age. Many marry in their early 20s. Both must be members of the Amish church and baptized in the faith to marry. The bride to be does not receive a ring, instead the groom might give her something like china or a clock.

Can Amish people fly?

While they avoid owning motor vehicles, Amish people still have plenty of ways to travel, many of which might surprise you. From horse-drawn buggies to scooters, trains, and even air travel in special circumstances, Amish transportation reflects a balance of faith, practicality, and tradition.

Do Amish females shave?

Covering their hair is seen as a way to distinguish themselves from men and to show their role as caretakers of the home and family. As a matter of fact, Amish women don't cut or shave any hair from their bodies.

Do Amish men wear underpants?

Back then, Amish men wore denim pants without any undergarments, which seems surprising since denim isn't typically the most comfortable fabric directly on skin. Fast forward to more recent visits when I helped with laundry at my siblings' homes, I discovered a change: the men now wear store-bought boxers!

What do Amish brides do on wedding night?

In some groups, the parent's will give their newlyweds their first bedroom suite, handmade by the family or by another craftsman in the community. The young couple will typically sleep in the parent's home the first night.

Who does the bride sleep with the night before?

A: There is no right or wrong answer to whether the bride should sleep with the groom the night before the wedding. Some couples prefer to spend the night apart to build anticipation for the big day, while others feel more comfortable and relaxed staying together.

Do Amish girls get pregnant during Rumspringa?

Rumspringa is a period that begins at age sixteen and ends with the promise of baptism, during this period young Amish are exposed to the outside world. Another problem the Amish community faces during the Rumspringa period is unexpected pregnancy.

Why is celery important in Amish weddings?

Jars of celery are set out on tables for decoration. Celery sprouting in the garden is a sign of hope. It's a sign of a young woman's faith that she will soon have a home of her own and then a family. It means that she, above all others, is the chosen bride.