List of U.S. states by Amish population

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States ranked according to Amish population in 2019.
Counties with Amish settlements in 2021.
Old Order Amish population growth in the 20th century.

There were 32 states of the United States with Amish population in 2022 that consists of at least one Amish settlement of Old or New Order Amish, excluding more modern Amish groups like e.g. the Beachy Amish. New Order Amish are seen as part of the Old Order Amish despite the name by most scholars.

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. Third in size is the settlement in Elkhart, LaGrange and surrounding counties in northeastern Indiana which is geographically merging with the Nappanee settlement due to the growth of both settlements, which filled the gap between the two. According to Albrecht Powell, the Pennsylvania Amish has not always been the largest group of U.S. Amish as is commonly thought.

The Amish population in the U.S. numbers more than 360,000 and is growing rapidly, due to large family size (seven children on average) and a church-member retention rate of approximately 80%."[1][2]

Statistics of states[edit]

Amish population by state and date
State 1992 2000 2010 2020 2022 Change
2020–2022 		% of the state
population, 2022 		% of the total U.S.
Amish population
Pennsylvania 32,710 44,620 59,350 81,500 86,965 6.7%Increase 0.67% 23.7%
Ohio 34,830 48,545 58,590 78,280 81,730 4.4% Increase 0.69% 22.2%
Indiana 23,405 32,840 43,710 59,305 62,800 5.9%Increase 0.92% 17.1%
Wisconsin 6,785 9,390 15,360 22,235 24,105 8.4%Increase 0.41% 6.6%
New York 4,050 4,505 12,015 21,230 22,550 6.2%Increase 0.11% 6.1%
Michigan 5,150 8,495 11,350 16,525 17,920 8.4%Increase 0.18% 4.9%
Missouri 3,745 5,480 9,475 14,520 15,520 6.9%Increase 0.25% 4.2%
Kentucky 2,625 4,850 7,750 13,595 14,835 9.1%Increase 0.33% 4.0%
Iowa 3,525 4,445 7,190 9,780 10,205 4.3%Increase 0.32% 2.8%
Illinois 2,940 3,785 6,860 7,240 7,760 7.2%Increase 0.06% 2.1%
Minnesota 1,135 1,420 3,150 4,740 5,210 10.0%Increase 0.09% 1.4%
Tennessee 750 1,270 2,125 3,325 3,715 11.7%Increase 0.05% 1%
Kansas 675 990 1,485 2,025 2,230 10.1%Increase 0.07% >
Delaware 1,200 1,080 1,350 1,750 1,865 6.6%Increase 0.19% >
Virginia 75 335 300 1,590 1,820 14.4%Increase > >
Maryland 810 1,020 1,350 1,650 1,765 7.0%Increase > >
Montana 270 335 675 935 1,185 26.7%Increase 0.11% >
Maine − 25 225 955 1,095 14.6%Increase 0.08% >
Colorado − − 810 650 835 28.5%Increase > >
Oklahoma 540 620 675 675 690 2.2%Increase > >
West Virginia − 70 225 390 635 62.8%Increase > >
Nebraska − − 150 355 345 2.9%Decrease > >
North Carolina 75 240 75 270 285 5.5%Increase > >
Wyoming − − − 220 280 27.3%Increase > >
Arkansas − 35 225 265 260 1.9%Decrease > >
Mississippi − 90 75 290 235 18.9%Decrease > >
Idaho − 120 − 55 100 81.8%Increase > >
Florida* 75 100 75 100 100 Steady > >
Vermont − − − 95 100 5.3%Increase > >
Texas 405 45 75 65 70 7.7%Increase > >
South Dakota − − 75 60 55 8.3%Decrease > >
New Mexico − − − − 30 Increase > >
Total US pop. 125,850 174,810 244,770 344,670 367,295 6.6%Increase 0.11% 100%
  • The settlement in Pinecraft (Sarasota), Florida is very atypical and its population varies a lot according to the season.
Sources of the statistics

The data for 1992 are from "Amish Studies - The Young Center".[3]

The data for 2000 are from a book published in 2001 (Donald Kraybill, The Riddle of Amish Culture)[4] and from "Amish Studies – The Young Center".[5]

The data for 2010 are from "Amish Studies - The Young Center".[6] The 2010 census of Amish population was published in 2012, compiled by Elizabeth Cooksey, professor of sociology, and Cory Anderson, a graduate student in rural sociology, both at The Ohio State University.[7] It was commissioned by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies for the 2010 U.S. Religion Census (published in 2012).[7][8]

The data for 2022 comes from "Amish Studies – The Young Center".[2]

The percentage of the state's population is from a 2021 estimate.[9]

Largest settlements[edit]

Settlement in State Estimated
population (2020) 		Estimated
population (2021) 		Estimated
population (2022) 		Annual
growth
rate
Lancaster, Chester, York and Berks counties area PA 40,525 41,795 43,010 Increase3.07%
Holmes, Wayne, Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Stark counties OH 36,955 37,770 38,635 Increase2.27%
LaGrange, Elkhart and Noble counties area IN 26,380 27,105 27,815 Increase2.72%
Geauga, Trumbull, Ashtabula and Portage counties area OH 18,820 19,420 19,900 Increase2.87%
Adams / Jay counties area IN 10,305 10,630 11,080 Increase3.76%
Nappanee, Elkhart, St. Joseph, Marshall and Kosciusko counties area IN 6,300 6,445 6,570 Increase2.14%
Daviess / Martin counties area IN 5,465 5,595 5,760 Increase2.70%
Arthur, Moultrie, Douglas and Coles counties area IL 4,095 4,270 4,360 Increase3.23%
Belleville, Mifflin county PA 4,090 4,205 4,240 Increase1.83%
Allen, Allen county IN 3,445 3,550 3,645 Increase2.90%
Seymour, Webster county MO 3,170 3,110 3,230 Increase0.95%
Smicksburg, Indiana county PA 3,355 2,945 3,070 Decrease4.25%
Lawrence / Mercer counties area PA 2,740 2,820 2,890 Increase2.74%
Heuvelton, St. Lawrence county NY 2,540 2,640 2,770 Increase4.53%
Clearfield / Jefferson counties area PA 1,850 2,560 2,620 Increase20.81%
Conewango Valley, Cattaraugus county NY 2,450 2,515 2,590 Increase2.86%
Spartansburg, Crawford county PA 2,335 2,425 2,525 Increase4.07%
Monroe / Vernon counties area WI 2,420 2,360 2,475 Increase1.14%
Munfordville, Hart county KY 2,340 2,360 2,430 Increase1.92%
Medina / Ashland counties area OH 2,165 2,245 2,360 Increase4.50%
Ethridge, Lawrence county TN 2,080 2,190 2,300 Increase5.29%
Christian / Trigg counties area KY 2,025 2,125 2,235 Increase5.18%
Columbia, Marquette and Green Lake counties area WI 1,980 2,050 2,155 Increase4.42%
Centreville, St. Joseph county MI 1,815 1,870 1,920 Increase2.89%
Dover, Kent county DE 1,750 1,795 1,865 Increase3.28%
Bloomfield, Davis county IA 1,640 1,800 1,865 Increase6.86%
Millersburg, Dauphin county PA 1,645 1,700 1,740 Increase2.89%
Rockville, Parke county IN 1,505 1,535 1,715 Increase6.98%
Kalona, Washington county IA 1,935 1,535 1,665 Decrease6.97%
Audrain / Monroe counties area MO 1,530 1,540 1,610 Increase2.61%
Clinton / Centre counties area PA 1,395 1,450 1,600 Increase7.34%
Hazleton, Buchanan county IA 1,490 1,550 1,595 Increase3.52%
Augusta, Eau Claire county WI 1,415 1,495 1,570 Increase5.48%
Clymer, Chautauqua county NY 1,475 1,520 1,565 Increase3.05%
Hagerstown, Wayne county IN 1,425 1,480 1,550 Increase4.38%
Branch / Hillsdale County counties area MI 1,335 1,440 1,520 Increase6.93%
St. Mary's / Charles counties area MD 1,380 1,450 1,515 Increase4.89%
Garrett, Somerset county PA 1,440 1,345 1,485 Increase1.56%
Atlantic, Crawford county PA 1,370 1,415 1,455 Increase3.10%
Myerstown, Lebanon county PA 1,325 1,355 1,395 Increase2.64%
Wilton, Monroe county WI 1,230 1,290 1,355 Increase5.08%
Darlington, Lafayette county WI 1,195 1,265 1,320 Increase5.23%
Port Royal, Juniata county PA 1,235 1,240 1,315 Increase3.24%
Sugar Grove, Warren county PA 1,300 1,175 1,285 Decrease0.57%
Loganton, Clinton county PA 1,135 1,170 1,275 Increase6.18%
Richland / Vernon counties area WI 1,105 1,175 1,240 Increase6.11%
Rebersburg, Centre county PA 1,070 1,125 1,220 Increase7.01%
Granton, Clark county WI 1,120 1,170 1,205 Increase3.79%
Hardin / Marion counties area OH 1,320 1,355 1,155 Decrease6.25%
Morrow / Knox counties area OH 1,920 2,005 1,125 Decrease20.70%
Romulus, Seneca county NY 1,065 1,090 1,115 Increase2.34%
Cumberland / Franklin counties area PA 1,050 1,065 1,110 Increase2.86%
Loysville, Perry county PA 1,040 1,075 1,110 Increase3.36%
Daviess, Grundy and Livingston counties area MO 990 1,015 1,045 Increase2.78%
Clare, Clare county MI 985 1,020 1,040 Increase2.79%
Gallipolis, Gallia county OH 670 695 1,005 Increase25%
Stanwood, Mecosta county MI 955 985 995 Increase2.09%
Ashland, Ashland county OH 940 970 980 Increase2.13%
Seymour, Wayne county IA 865 900 955 Increase5.20%
Loyal, Clark county WI 860 890 935 Increase4.36%
Mohawk Valley, Montgomery county NY 765 815 925 Increase10.46%
Allenwood, Lycoming county PA 835 875 915 Increase4.79%

Sources: 2020,[10][11] 2021,[12][13] and 2022.[2]

Counties with the highest percentage[edit]

Data according to "2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates".[14] Percentage is calculated via the language statistics given by the ACS, which in the category "Language Spoken at Home", has the "other [than English or Spanish] Indo-European language" subcategory; in the following counties this is primarily Pennsylvania Dutch, the language of majority of the Amish people.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: Persons speaking an Indo-European language at home other than English or Spanish (among adults 18+), a vast majority of them speak Pennsylvania German. Data are being provided by: ACS 2019 5-year estimate.
County State estimated %
(2020)
Holmes Ohio 48.0%
LaGrange Indiana 40.6%
Davis Iowa 21.0%
Daviess Indiana 15.1%
Adams Indiana 12.5%
Douglas Illinois 12.1%
Geauga Ohio 11.0%
Moultrie Illinois 10.5%
Jefferson Iowa 9.5%
Wayne Ohio 9.4%
Daviess Missouri 8.9%
Todd Kentucky 8.3%
Vernon Wisconsin 8.2%
Mifflin Pennsylvania 8.1%
Lancaster Pennsylvania 7.9%
Coshocton Ohio 7.4%
Clark Wisconsin 7.1%
Scotland Missouri 6.8%
Oscoda Michigan 6.4%
Elkhart Indiana 5.9%
Van Buren Iowa 5.9%
Webster Missouri 5.8%
Todd Minnesota 5.7%
Tuscarawas Ohio 5.3%
Hart Kentucky 5.2%
Green Lake Wisconsin 4.9%
St. Joseph Michigan 4.7%
St. Lawrence New York 4.6%
Jefferson Pennsylvania 4.5%
Marshall Indiana 4.5%
Fillmore Minnesota 4.4%
Ashtabula Ohio 4.3%
Centre Pennsylvania 4.2%
Kosciusko Indiana 4.2%
Chester Pennsylvania 4.1%
Crawford Pennsylvania 4.1%
Indiana Pennsylvania 4.1%
Monroe Wisconsin 3.9%
Ashland Ohio 3.8%
Christian Kentucky 3.8%
Noble Indiana 3.5%
Knox Ohio 3.4%
Noble Ohio 3.4%
Lawrence Tennessee 3.3%
Trumbull Ohio 3.3%
Branch Michigan 3.2%
Summit Ohio 3.0%
Jay Indiana 3.0%

Amish settlements outside the US[edit]

There are Amish settlements in four Canadian provinces, Ontario, founded in the 1820s, Manitoba, founded in 2018,[15] New Brunswick in 2015 and Prince Edward Island, in 2016.

There was an Amish settlement in Honduras from about 1968 to 1978 but the settlement failed.[16]

In 2015 new settlements of New Order Amish were founded in Argentina and Bolivia.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Powell, Albrecht. "Amish 101 - Amish Beliefs, Culture & Lifestyle, History of the Amish in America". about.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Amish Population 2022: Amish Call New Mexico Home". Elizabethtown College, the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. July 29, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Amish Population Change 1992-2013 (Alphabetical Order)" (PDF). Population Trends 1992-2013. 21-Year Highlights. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  4. ^ Donald Kraybill (2001). The Riddle of Amish Culture. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-6772-9.
  5. ^ "Amish Population Change, 2000-2021" (PDF). Elizabethtown College, the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. August 12, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Amish Studies: "Population Change 2010-2015"
  7. ^ a b Emily Caldwell (July 27, 2012). "Estimate: A new Amish community is founded every three and a half weeks in US". Phys.org. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  8. ^ 2010 U.S. Religion Census, official website.
  9. ^ "Amish Population 2020". World Population Review. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "Twelve largest settlements, 2020". Groups.etown.edu. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  11. ^ Amish Population in the United States by State and County, 2020
  12. ^ "The Amish Population in 2021". Elizabethtown College, the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Amish Population in the United States by State and County, 2021
  14. ^ Census Bureau data for each of the counties.
  15. ^ 1st Amish settlement west of Ontario prepares for Prairie winter in quiet Manitoba town.
  16. ^ Cory Anderson and Jennifer Anderson. "The Amish Settlement in Honduras, 1968-1978" in Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies 4,1, pages 1-50.


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