Who are the Amish?

The Amish are one of the most recognizable and often misunderstood religious communities in the United States. Known for plain dress, horse-drawn buggies, and a careful distance from modern life, they are not frozen in time. Their choices are deliberate, rooted in faith, history, and a strong sense of community.

Where Amish communities live

Amish settlements are concentrated in rural areas where farmland is affordable and communities can remain close-knit. The largest populations are found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Pennsylvania is especially significant because it was the destination of some of the earliest Amish immigrants, and it remains home to one of the oldest and most well-known settlements in Lancaster County.



Smaller but growing communities exist in states such as Wisconsin, New York, Michigan, Missouri, and Kentucky. In recent decades, Amish families have moved more frequently, forming new settlements as land prices rise or as communities grow too large to manage comfortably.

Ethnic and historical background

The Amish are primarily of Swiss German and Alsatian ancestry. Their roots trace back to Anabaptist movements in Switzerland and southern Germany during the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s. Persecution for their religious beliefs pushed many to migrate, first within Europe and later to North America in the 1700s and 1800s.

Most Amish today speak a dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch, which is actually derived from German, not Dutch. English is learned in school and used when interacting with non-Amish neighbors.

Why the Amish avoid modern conveniences

The Amish do not reject technology simply because it is new. Instead, they ask a consistent question: Will this technology strengthen or weaken our community and our faith?

Many modern conveniences emphasize speed, individualism, and constant connection to the outside world. Amish leaders worry these traits can erode humility, family life, and mutual dependence. For example, owning a personal car could reduce reliance on neighbors and encourage young people to travel farther from home and church.

Their approach is guided by the Ordnung, an unwritten but widely understood set of rules that governs daily life. The Ordnung differs by community, which explains why Amish practices are not identical everywhere.



Are the Amish adopting some technology?

Yes, but selectively and cautiously.

In many communities, Amish people use technology in limited, practical ways. Examples include:

• Battery-powered tools instead of electric ones
• Diesel engines for farm equipment or workshops
• Shared phones located in phone shanties rather than inside homes
• Computers used for business purposes, often without internet access

Some Amish business owners use smartphones indirectly through hired non-Amish employees or trusted neighbors. Others allow internet access only for specific tasks, such as ordering supplies. The key point is control. Technology is adopted when it serves work or safety without reshaping daily life around it.

Relationships with the outside world

Amish communities are not isolated or hostile to outsiders. They interact regularly with non-Amish neighbors, customers, and local governments. They pay taxes, follow most laws, and often have cordial relationships with surrounding towns.

At the same time, they maintain clear social boundaries. Amish children typically attend Amish-run schools through the eighth grade, and church life remains entirely separate from the wider culture. This balance allows them to function within American society while preserving their identity.

How Amish families earn a living

Farming remains central to Amish culture, but it is no longer the sole source of income. As farmland has become more expensive, many Amish have turned to skilled trades and small businesses.

Common occupations include:

• Carpentry and construction
• Furniture and cabinet making
• Metalworking and machine shops
• Quilting, baking, and food production
• Market gardening and greenhouse operations

These businesses often employ both Amish and non-Amish workers and serve a broad customer base.



Trade, selling, and bartering

Amish people regularly sell goods and services to the outside world. Farmers’ markets, roadside stands, furniture shops, and construction crews are common points of contact. While bartering still occurs within Amish communities, most transactions with non-Amish customers use standard currency.

Trust and reputation matter deeply. Many Amish businesses rely on word of mouth rather than advertising, and long-term relationships with customers are common.

A community built on choice, not nostalgia

The Amish way of life is not about rejecting progress for its own sake. It is about choosing a slower, more deliberate path that prioritizes faith, family, and community stability. Their selective use of technology shows adaptability rather than rigidity, and their economic success demonstrates that traditional values can coexist with modern markets.

Understanding the Amish means recognizing that their differences are intentional. They are not trying to escape the modern world entirely. They are trying to live in it on their own terms.