Population and distribution

The geographic and social isolation of Amish communities make it difficult to determine the total Amish population. Rough estimates by various studies have estimated their numbers at 123,000 in 1992, 166,000 in 2000, and 227,000 in 2008, for a growth rate of nearly 4% per year. In 2000, approximately 165,620 Old Order Amish resided in the United States, of which 73,609 were church members. The Amish are among the fastest-growing populations in the world, with an average of 6.8 children per family. Old Order Amish groups include the Byler group, Nebraska Amish in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, the Reno group, and the Swartzentruber Amish in Holmes County, Ohio.

There are Old Order communities in 21 states; Pennsylvania has the largest population (44,000), followed by Ohio (43,000) and Indiana (33,000).The largest Amish settlements are in Holmes County, Ohio, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and LaGrange, Indiana. Due to rapid population growth within Amish communities, new settlements are constantly being formed to obtain sufficient farmland. Notable Amish communities are located in Kent County, Delaware, Davis County Iowa and Montgomery County, New York. A sizable Old Order community exists in St. Lawrence County, New York.

The Amish are united by a common Swiss-German ancestry, language, and culture, and for them to remain Amish, they must marry within their church. They meet the criteria of an ethnic group. However, they themselves generally use the term only for accepted members of their faith, and not for an ethnic designation. Those who choose to live the plain lifestyle and 'join church' are considered Amish. Certain Mennonite churches have a high number of people who were formerly from Amish congregations. Although more Amish immigrated to America in the 19th century than during the 18th century, most of today's Amish descend from 18th century immigrants, because the others were more liberal and were assimilated into the general society, thus losing their Amish identity.

In some circumstances, Mennonites of Amish descent may still consider themselves Amish, especially in Canada. The former Western Ontario Mennonite Conference (WOMC) was made up almost entirely of former Amish who reunited with the Mennonite Church in Canada. Orland Gingerich's book, The Amish of Canada, devotes the vast majority of its pages not to the Beachy or Old Order Amish, but to congregations in the former WOMC.

 

 
Make a Free Website with Yola.