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Best Places to Experience Amish Life
The Amish way of life offers a glimpse into a world where horse-drawn buggies replace cars, handcrafted furniture beats factory production, and community ties run deeper than most modern neighborhoods. Visiting Amish country means stepping into communities that have preserved traditions dating back centuries, where you can watch skilled artisans at work, taste homemade pies that’ll ruin store-bought desserts for you forever, and experience a slower pace that feels like hitting the pause button on modern chaos.
These communities’ welcome visitors who approach with genuine curiosity and respect for their customs. From Pennsylvania’s rolling farmland to the flat prairies of Iowa, Amish settlements dot the American landscape in surprising numbers. Here is a list of places where you can experience authentic Amish life. Each offering its own unique flavor of this traditional lifestyle with its reduced cancer rates from eating clean and staying active within manual labor.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Amish
Lancaster County holds the crown as the oldest and most visited Amish settlement in America, established way back in the 1720s. The county is home to roughly 40,000 Amish residents spread across picturesque farmland, and you’ll find everything from authentic farmers’ markets to buggy rides through the countryside.
The town of Intercourse (yes, that’s really the name) serves as a popular hub with quilt shops, craft stores, and restaurants serving traditional Pennsylvania Dutch cooking that’ll have you loosening your belt.
Smicksburg, Pennsylvania Amish
Smicksburg feels like Lancaster County’s quieter cousin, offering an authentic Amish experience without the tour bus crowds. This western Pennsylvania community centers around a charming downtown where horse-drawn buggies outnumber cars on most days. The town hosts several craft shops, a working harness shop where you can watch leather goods being made, and bakeries that fill the air with the smell of fresh bread and pastries.
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The Amish population in Smicksburg, Pennsylvania, Total Amish population (2025): 3,330 –This figure is part of a larger total Amish population in Pennsylvania:
which is over 400,000 people across various communities. Smicksburg is part of a larger Amish community that has grown significantly since its founding in 1962, with a total of over 800 settlers since 1961. The community is known for its Amish heritage and offers a unique lifestyle with a focus on traditional values and community living.
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Amish
New Wilmington combines a college town atmosphere with a thriving Amish community in western Pennsylvania’s rolling farmland. The settlement dates back to the 1840s and maintains strong traditional values while coexisting peacefully with Westminster College students and faculty. The area is known for harness racing, and you can often see Amish families training their standardbred horses along quiet country roads
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The Amish population in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, is approximately 2,097 as of the 2020 census. This community is part of the Old Order Amish sect and is known for its traditional lifestyle and cultural practices. The town is home to several Amish congregations and is surrounded by an Amish settlement with around 2,500 residents as of 2013. Pennsylvania Cancer
Holmes County boasts the largest Amish population in the world, with over 40,000 Amish people calling this rolling Ohio landscape home. The town of Berlin acts as the tourist center, packed with shops selling handcrafted furniture, cheese factories offering free samples, and restaurants where the portions are generous enough to feed a small army.
Unlike Lancaster’s more commercial feel, Holmes County maintains a quieter, more laid-back atmosphere that many visitors find refreshing.
Walnut Creek sits in the heart of Holmes County, but deserves its own mention because of the incredible concentration of authentic experiences packed into this small village. The Amish Flea Market operates year-round with dozens of vendors, while Hershberger’s Farm and Bakery offer tours where kids can pet farm animals and adults can load up on fresh bread.
The nearby Yoder’s Amish Home provides guided tours of an actual Amish house and farm, giving visitors a rare inside look at daily life. As of the 2020 census, Walnut Creek had a population of 908 residents. The Amish community in Ohio is the largest in the world, with over 60,000 members in total. Walnut Creek is centrally located in Holmes County, which is home to a significant portion of the Amish population in the state.
Geauga County, located northeast of Cleveland, hosts Ohio’s second-largest Amish population in a setting of rolling hills and maple forests. The community maintains a particularly traditional lifestyle, with many families still using old-order practices that other settlements have relaxed.
The Amish population in Geauga County, Ohio, is approximately 20,980 as of 2024, making it the second-largest Amish settlement in Ohio and the fourth-largest in North America.
The community was founded in 1886 and has grown significantly over the years, with a diverse range of affiliations represented within the settlement. Fall brings spectacular foliage, and the maple syrup season showcases the community’s sugaring operations, where you can watch sap being boiled down using traditional methods. Ohio Cancer
The Amish population in Arthur, Illinois, is approximately 5,600 people, making it the largest Amish community in the state. The community, founded in 1864, has grown to encompass 33 church districts and is centered around Arthur, a small town with a population of around 2,000 residents. The Amish community is known for its traditional lifestyle and craftsmanship, with many families involved in farming and other local businesses.
Arthur represents the heart of Illinois Amish country, where the community has grown steadily since families first settled here in 1865. The downtown area features a charming collection of shops selling everything from handmade brooms to custom cabinetry, and the local cheese factory produces some seriously good varieties you won’t find in regular grocery stores.
Arthur is a village in Douglas and Moultrie counties in Illinois, with Arthur’s primary street, Vine Street, being the county line. What makes Arthur special is how the Amish and non-Amish residents have created a genuinely integrated community where both cultures thrive side by side. Illinois Cancer
Nappanee serves as the gateway to northern Indiana’s Amish country and combines authentic experiences with visitor-friendly attractions. Amish Acres, a historic farm and heritage resort, offers guided tours, theater productions, and traditional meals served family-style in massive portions.
The Amish population in Napanee, Indiana, is approximately 6,985 as of 2025, The surrounding countryside features numerous working farms where you can purchase handcrafted goods directly from the makers, and the weekly livestock auction provides genuine insight into the agricultural side of Amish life.Elkhart and LaGrange counties, Indiana
These neighboring counties form Indiana’s largest Amish settlement, with a combined population exceeding 28,000 Amish residents. The area specializes in furniture making, and you’ll find workshops and showrooms scattered throughout the countryside, producing everything from simple wooden chairs to elaborate custom cabinetry.
The town of Middlebury acts as a central hub with restaurants, shops, and the famous Das Dutchman Essenhaus serving traditional comfort food.
Shipshewana transforms into a bustling marketplace every Tuesday and Wednesday when the massive flea market and auction draw thousands of visitors to this tiny northern Indiana town. The community of about 650 people swells dramatically during market days, where you can bid on everything from quilts to livestock while rubbing shoulders with Amish families doing their weekly shopping.
The town also hosts the Midwest’s largest antique auction and offers buggy rides that take you past working Amish farms.
Indiana is home to the world’s third-largest Amish population. The state has long been important for the Old Order Amish. The “Plain People” have lived in Indiana for close to two centuries. Today, the Amish in Indiana form a vibrant and growing community. As of 2024, over 63,000 Amish live in over two dozen locations across the state. Indiana Cancer
As of 2025, the Amish population in Wisconsin is estimated to be 27,535, with Cashton being the largest settlement in the state. The Cashton community is part of a larger Amish population that has been growing since the 1960s, with a high birth rate contributing to its expansion.
Cashton anchors Wisconsin’s largest Amish settlement in the scenic Kickapoo Valley region of the southwestern part of the state. The community maintains a low-key approach to tourism, with most businesses operating out of homes rather than commercial storefronts.
You’ll find the area particularly beautiful in the fall, when the hardwood forests explode with color and local produce stands offer fresh vegetables, baked goods, and maple syrup produced by Amish families. Wisconsin Cancer
Michigan is home to a vibrant Amish community, with over 18,000 Amish residents spread across more than 50 settlements, offering a unique glimpse into their traditional way of life. Michigan has the sixth-largest Amish population in the United States, with a rich history of settlement dating back to 1895. The Amish communities are primarily located in the southern and central parts of the state, with notable concentrations in St. Joseph County, Branch County, and Hillsdale County. The Centreville community is the oldest and largest, housing around 2,000 Amish individuals. Michigan Cancer
Centreville Michigan Amish – Search Videos
Kentucky’s Amish Country is a testament to the enduring values of the Amish community. With a population of nearly 16,000 Amish living in 50+ locations across the state, Kentucky’s Amish population is now the 8th-largest in the country. The Amish in Kentucky engage in various activities, including farming, small business operations, and traditional crafts.
Notable settlements include Hart County, known for its rapid growth and diverse Amish communities, and Marion, the largest Amish town in Kentucky, offering a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle and culture. Visitors can explore Amish-owned businesses, antique shops, and historic sites, making Kentucky Amish Country a unique and authentic experience. Kentucky Cancer
Kalona gives you an authentic slice of Iowa’s prairie Amish life without the crowds you’d encounter at more famous destinations. The Kalona Historical Village preserves multiple 19th-century buildings that show how early settlers lived, while the weekly sales barn auction on Wednesdays draws Amish families from surrounding farms.
The Amish population in Kalona, Iowa, is approximately 1,600 people as of 2024, with the community consisting of 11 congregations (church districts). The Kalona Amish settlement is one of the oldest in the state, having been founded in 1846. Amish America The town’s quilt shops showcase the region’s quilting tradition, and local bakeries serve up fresh pastries that make skipping breakfast impossible. Iowa Cancer
Dover represents one of the fastest-growing Amish communities in America and offers a unique mid-Atlantic perspective on Amish life. The settlement started in the 1910s and has expanded steadily, with families farming the flat coastal plain that’s quite different from the rolling hills of Pennsylvania or Ohio. The Dover Amish community in Delaware has a population of approximately 1,990 to 2,000 Amish residents as of 2024.
This community, founded in 1915, consists of around 14 church districts and has been growing despite challenges from suburban development and land pressure. The community is known for its traditional lifestyle and has a rich history dating back over a century. The community operates numerous roadside stands and small shops, and the less touristy atmosphere means more genuine interactions with local families. Delaware Cancer
St. Mary’s County, Maryland Amish
St. Mary’s County hosts Maryland’s only significant Amish settlement in a coastal region that contrasts sharply with typical Amish farmland. The community settled here in the 1940s and adapted its traditional farming to the warmer, more humid climate near the Chesapeake Bay. You can visit produce stands and craft shops along country roads, and the community’s annual mud sale in March draws crowds looking for deals on everything from quilts to farm equipment.
Maryland has had a small Amish presence since the mid-1800s. As of 2024, the estimated Amish population in Maryland is approximately 2,000 people, most of whom live in the sizable St. Mary’s County settlement. Maryland Cancer
- St. Mary’s County (Mechanicsville) – The state’s largest Amish settlement was founded by Lancaster County Amish in 1940
- Oakland (Garrett County) – This unusual Amish community is by far the oldest in the state
- Cecilton – A small Amish community in Cecil County on the Delmarva peninsula.
- Union Mills (Carroll County) – Maryland’s youngest Amish community lies partially in PA
- Lancaster County Amish in Maryland – A number of Amish have settled over the border in Maryland from neighboring Lancaster County, PA
- Maryland Amish Markets – For several days each week, Amish from outside the state operate stands at suburban and city markets (Baltimore-area and other locations)
Ethridge, Tennessee Amish – Search Videos
Ethridge represents the largest Amish settlement in the South and offers a distinctly different experience from northern communities. The warmer climate means year-round farming, and the community welcomes visitors through their network of home-based businesses marked by small signs along country roads.
The Amish population in Ethridge, Tennessee, is approximately 2,200 to 2,500 residents. This community is known for its conservative traditions and is one of the largest Amish settlements in the Southern United States, with a total of fourteen church districts. The Amish in Ethridge maintain a lifestyle that emphasizes family, faith, and traditional farming practices. You can stop at farms selling everything from handmade baskets to fresh produce, and the locals are known for being particularly friendly and willing to chat with curious visitors. Tennessee Cancer
Harmony bills itself as ‘the biggest little town in southern Minnesota’ and serves as the center of the state’s largest Amish community. The town created an Amish Tours operation that offers guided buggy rides through the countryside, giving visitors a chance to experience travel the old-fashioned way. Local shops sell traditional crafts and foods, and the surrounding area features beautiful bluff country that’s particularly stunning during the fall color season.
As of 2024, the Harmony Amish Settlement in Fillmore County, Minnesota, is home to over 700 Amish people. The community is the largest in Minnesota, with a total population of approximately 1,000 individuals, primarily engaged in farming and crafting. The Amish community is known for its conservative traditions and limited use of modern technology. Minnesota Cancer
Pinecraft breaks the mold of the Amish community as a winter vacation spot where Amish and Mennonite families from colder climates escape the snow. Located in Sarasota, this neighborhood comes alive from January through March when visiting families rent small homes and enjoy the warm weather.
You won’t find farms here, but you will discover a unique community where even the most traditional Amish families relax the rules a bit, riding bicycles and three-wheeled adult tricycles instead of buggies. Florida Cancer
Jamesport operates as Missouri’s largest Amish community and feels like stepping onto a movie set of rural America from a different era. The town’s main street lines up about 30 Amish-owned businesses selling bulk foods, handcrafted furniture, and traditional goods that reflect genuine craftsmanship.
Monday mornings bring the livestock auction to life, where you can watch Amish farmers buying and selling cattle, horses, and farm equipment using methods that haven’t changed much in generations. The Amish population in Jamesport, Missouri, is significant, with the community being the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River.
As of the 2020 census, Jamesport had a population of 559 residents, and it is home to around 175 families. The Amish community in Jamesport has been established since the 1950s and is known for its rich agricultural lifestyle and adherence to traditional values.
Clark anchors Missouri’s second-largest Amish settlement in the northeastern part of the state near the Mississippi River. The community remains relatively undiscovered by mass tourism, which means you get a more authentic look at daily Amish life without the commercial overlay.
Local families operate small businesses from their homes, and the weekly auction in nearby Kahoka draws Amish farmers from the surrounding area.
The Amish population in Clark, Missouri is part of a larger community that has seen significant growth in recent years. As of the latest estimates, Missouri has around 15,520 Amish residents, making it the seventh-largest Amish population in the United States. The Clark Amish community began in 1953 and has since expanded, with over 200 families residing in the area. The community is known for its traditional lifestyle and has become a popular destination for Amish families seeking a simpler life. Missouri Cancer
Chouteau is the heart of Oklahoma’s Amish community, set in a landscape that looks nothing like traditional Amish country. The settlement started in 1978 when families moved from more crowded areas to find affordable farmland in northeastern Oklahoma. The community welcomes visitors to their roadside produce stands and craft shops, and the contrast between Amish buggies and the surrounding Oklahoma prairie creates a uniquely American scene.
The Amish population in Chouteau, Oklahoma, is approximately 600 members of the Amish religious sect. This community is the largest in Oklahoma and has been a significant part of the state’s Amish population. The Amish in Chouteau are known for their use of tractors in farming and their involvement in various businesses. The community has a rich history and is known for its friendly culture and strong sense of community. Oklahoma Cancer
From past to present
The Amish communities scattered across America prove that traditional ways of life can still thrive in our fast-paced modern world. These settlements have grown from a few hundred immigrants in the 1700s to over 400,000 people today, maintaining their core values while adapting just enough to survive.
Whether you visit the bustling markets of Lancaster County or the quiet farms of rural Oklahoma, you’ll find communities that value craftsmanship, family, and faith above convenience and speed. The experience offers more than just a tourist attraction—it provides a working example that simpler living remains possible even in the 21st century. SOURCE: Best places to experience Amish life
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