Amish Report Staggering Growth In Midwest

Amish women assists with a cattle drive Saturday, March 31, 2012 near Maysville, Ky. The cattle were moved nearly two miles over a highway to new pastures. (AP Photo/The Ledger Independent, Terry Prather.)

MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio (RNS) The Amish are one of the fastest-growing religious groups in North America, according to a new census by researchers at Ohio State University.

The study, released July 27 at the annual meeting of the Rural Sociological Society, suggests a new community sprouting every three and a half weeks.

Nearly 250,000 Amish live in the U.S. and Canada, and the population is expected to exceed 1 million around 2050.

The growth may not be visible outside Amish country, but the rural settlements definitely see the boom.

"This place has grown," said Daniel Miller, 52, who has spent his life on an Amish settlement here. "It's because all of the kids."

Many Amish families have multiple children, Miller said, adding that those children often stay in the community and eventually sprout families of their own.

There are currently 99 church districts, or communities, in Middlefield, which is east of Cleveland in central Northeast Ohio. Miller said he remembers when there were less than 20.

The Amish double their population about every 22 years, said Joseph Donnermeyer, the Ohio State professor who led the census project as part of the recent 2010 U.S. Religion Census.

The skyward growth has made Ohio home to more than 60,000 Amish residents -- the most in any state. Pennsylvania ranks second with about 59,000 Amish people. Indiana ranks third with about 45,000.

Simple economics also has been a factor in the rising population, Donnermeyer said.

"They are often purchasing land at good market prices," he said. "They are buying land that no one else wanted to buy. Generally speaking, the Amish are a good economic value for the rural communities. They have business startups and they are more likely to buy local."

Additionally, Amish residents are not likely to draw on government money, Donnermeyer said, adding that Amish people have very low unemployment and rarely go on welfare.

He said Amish residents also pay the same taxes as other citizens. "The idea that the Amish don't pay taxes is the biggest mythology about the Amish," Donnermeyer said.

About half of the Amish people in Ohio live in the greater Holmes County settlement in the central part of the state. Holmes County itself holds the highest concentration of Amish residents in any county in the United States.

Many Ohio counties have just what the Amish population is looking for, Donnermeyer said.

"You can't be too rural," he said. "You have to be close enough to a town with the basic necessities, like a bank, hospital, etc. I think Ohio is the perfect mix."

As the population grows, the Amish community and its neighbors begin to merge. In Middlefield, horse-drawn buggies are parked outside the local Wal-Mart.

"I'm not a fan of Wal-Mart, but my wife is," said Amish farmer Dan Yoder, 59, as he walked through the Wal-Mart parking lot. "We get the stuff you can't make at home.

"Things have changed a lot. This lot used to be my uncle's farm."

(Brandon Blackwell writes for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland).

Click through the slideshow to see most and least Christian states in the United States:

Loading Slideshow

• Utah

  78,438 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Parowan_Utah_Church.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• North Dakota

  66,950 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Catholic_Church_in_Warsaw,_North_Dakota.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Alabama

  62,467 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:16th_Street_Baptist_Church.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Louisiana

  59,598 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St._Stephens_Episcopal_Church_(Innis,_Louisiana).jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Oklahoma

  58,598 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Catesby_Oklahoma_Church.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Mississippi

  58,342 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mississippi_Church.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• South Dakota

  58,212 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Methodist_Episcopal_Church_Pierre_South_Dakota.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Minnesota

  55,280 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_near_Flom,_Minnesota.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Massachusetts

  55,023 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sandwich_Church,_Massachusetts.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Arkansas

  54,985 Christian adherents per 100,000 people. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Our_Lady_of_Perpetual_Help_Church_silhouette_altus_arkansas.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Nebraska

  54,776 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Visitation_Church_%28O'Connor%2C_Nebraska%29_church_from_S.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Tennessee

  54,764 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/First_Baptist_Church_Donelson_Tennessee_04032012.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Rhode Island

  53,576 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Texas

  53,525 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Iowa

  53,403 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Wisconsin

  52,863 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Pennsylvania

  51,883 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Illinois

  51,442 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• South Carolina

  51,374 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Kentucky

  51,055 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Idaho

  50,695 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• District of Columbia

  49,903 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Kansas

  49,666 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• New Jersey

  49,575 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Georgia

  49,374 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_(Georgia)_Presbyterian_Church.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Connecticut

  49,096 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• New Mexico

  49,044 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Missouri

  48,436 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• North Carolina

  46,737 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carolina_Baptist_Church.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• New York

  44,488 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. <br> Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_in_Rye,_New_York.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Indiana

  43,788 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Ohio

  42,744 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• California

  42,430 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Virginia

  41,304 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Michigan

  40,186 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Delaware

  39,575 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_Church,_Dover,_Delaware.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Wyoming

  39,341 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Maryland

  39,214 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Montana

  37,824 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Florida

  37,104 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Colorado

  36,461 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Hawaii

  36,103 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Arizona

  35,842 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• West Virginia

  35,211 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• New Hampshire

  34,617 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Nevada

  33,395 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/StJoanofArcCatholicChurch_in_Las_Vegas_founded_1910.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Washington

  33,065 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Methodist_Church_at_Historic_Washington_State_Park_IMG_1467.JPG" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Vermont

  32,954 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Alaska

  32,810 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Original photo <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Orthodox_church_in_Seldovia%2C_Alaska.jpg" target="_hplink">here</a>.

• Oregon

  30,101 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

• Maine

  27,098 Christian adherents per 100,000 persons.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[PleaseThinkWisely]

56 minutes ago (10:59 AM)

Awesome! It looks like a nice way of life!

[starscreem]

05:18 AM on 08/18/2012

" "The idea that the Amish don't pay taxes is the biggest mythology about the Amish," Donnermeyer said." oreally? https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110225035

[MightyYowp]

06:31 PM on 08/17/2012

Just shows you want can happen w/o TV in one's life!

[farmlover]

07:43 AM on 08/16/2012

I agree that some Amish lead lives that appear to be more content and less complicated. However, since this article, I did some asking around here in Ohio and found the statements that I doubted to be true ones! They do indeed have puppy mills and treat their horses (some Amish) in a brutal manner. A Vet I trust was here yesterday to help me with my 20 year old pony and he shared information without even realizing what I was asking... I admire this Vet and trust his opinion. I stand corrected. Sorry everyone

[KristineE]

12:58 AM on 08/16/2012

This might not be true of all Amish but entering one of their communities is like entering another world, peaceful with less distractions. I can see more people turning to their lifestyle as an alternative to today's chaos.

[Palomino42]

01:08 PM on 08/15/2012

In response to some of the more recent comments:
- Yes, some Amish have TVs. Telephones and cell phones too, depending on the community, if the telephones are not installed inside their house.
- Yes, Amish people pay most taxes. However, there is a Congressional exemption from Social Security taxes for self-employed Amish. Also, they use little gasoline and therefore pay little fuel tax. Fuel tax goes toward repairing road damage, much of which is caused by the Amish horses and buggies.
- People of the Amish religion can be just as immoral, fat, lazy, violent, etc. as any other person.
- Stats on crime rates, STD's, drug use, violence, etc. are not prevalent because few Amish reveal such information to the outside world. But the crimes do occur.
- Yes, many abuse animals. An animal is simply a tool to be used up and discarded. Amish puppy mills are rarely “seen” because of the steps taken to hide such realities, including ramming metal pipes down the throats of dogs to sever their vocal cords. There can be 400 dogs in one barn and you’ll never hear a sound.

A quote from Ruth Irene Garrett, ex-Amish: "It's like any other society. You have great families, very well-balanced, but you also have dysfunctional ones. Take the Amish off the pedestal.”

For facts about the Amish culture that are not common knowledge in the general public, including news reports, photographs, and publications by ex-Amish, visit Amish Truths. https://www.facebook.com/AmishTruths

[David Weidner]

03:41 AM on 08/15/2012

An Amish couple down the road had a baby girl. They are everywhere!!! We cannot stop them! We have lost all control. Time to assimilate.

[Goranm84]

06:40 PM on 08/13/2012

They don't have TV sets, you know. :-)

[HockeyMom]

05:22 PM on 08/13/2012

Too bad Michigan treats them so badly.

[oregonian68]

04:30 PM on 08/13/2012

Good. They breed good looking people. Moral. Not fat. Not lazy. Not hedonistic. Not on welfare. Polite. Independent. Oppose war and violence. Promote healthy lifestyles. Exercise. Organic gardening. Raw milk.

Love the Amish. Have extended family in Lancaster. We need to breed more of them.

[Anne Rutherford]

02:28 PM on 08/15/2012

Less the puppy mills, right?

[bmuesli]

11:37 PM on 08/15/2012

Seriously? All Amish look alike and are dumb as rocks, having inbred themselves since they arrived in America. They are all descended from less than 200 immigrants, not much genetic diversity there. Their unhealthy diet catches up with them in middle age when they stop working so hard (because their kids and grandkids are doing all the work) so most older Amish are fat and suffer from the diseases associated with a high-fat high calorie meat-heavy diet. Their "organic" farming methods (ie: dumping raw manure on everything ) has polluted streams and rivers and caused major damage to watersheds, particularly the Chesapeake Bay.
With all the genetic disorders arising from such an inbred population, the Amish will eventually suffer from population collapse and breed themselves out of existence.

[robjae]

02:04 PM on 08/13/2012

alot of inbreeding going on ...

[sbren20979]

01:27 PM on 08/13/2012

They are attempting to live in the past, essentially living in the 1600's. The sect has died out in Europe where it originated.
They are anti-modernity, and use the Bible as a literal guide for day to day living.
Modern scholarship is revealing the actual sources of the Bible in some of the earliest stages of Christianity. Unfortunately living with the Bible as a literal word of God resulted in the "Dark Ages" in which the church ruled peoples lives from birth to the grave. Even being able to read was regarded as heretical and could result in punishment by the church.
Essentially it appears the Amish are attempting to live in the dark ages, meaning active avoidance of learning in the areas of the sciences and humanities.
This limits the future of their sect and limits the potential of the members, be they children or adults.

[Angrykitteh]

02:14 PM on 08/13/2012

"... and use the Bible as a literal guide for day to day living. "

And I'm fine with that. Unlike other Christian sects, they keep it pretty much to themselves. They're independent, self sufficient and are an asset to their communities.

"Essentially it appears the Amish are attempting to live in the dark ages, meaning active avoidance of learning in the areas of the sciences and humanities. "

It doesn't fit their lifestyle. So leave them alone. They're not beating you over the head with their bible, so don't smack them with your encyclopedia.

[sbren20979]

04:11 PM on 08/13/2012

I don't want to bother them, but members who want to leave the Amish community for their own reasons have great difficulty doing so. There are actions such as "shunning" for people leaving the community and due to lack of education, members can not transition into modern communities with regular jobs, but usually just menial labor type jobs.
Our economy is very challenging, even to the highly educated these days, so if one does not have technical skills or education, they are at a severe disadvantage for gainful or competitive employment.
I am aware of some of this information through my family background.

[oregonian68]

04:32 PM on 08/13/2012

Any stats on crime rates? STD's? Drug use? Violence? Maybe you shpould embrace their diversity and appreciate their unioque culture, which promotes peace, natural living and kindness to others.

[Anne Rutherford]

02:31 PM on 08/15/2012

They have problems just like any other society. There is a view that they don't have the issues we suffer from, but it's a rose-colored glasses view. While some social issues may occurr less frequently, there are still incidences of drug dealing, child abuse, etc. Overall, they are decent folks - I suspect much like everyone else.

[manfrommontana]

01:21 PM on 08/13/2012

Maybe if we could elimnate the separation of church and state and they paid taxes like the rest of us their growth would be more consistant with everyone elses. I can't help but thinking my personal property growth could increase greatly too if my tax rate was 0.

[icu812ruok]

01:26 PM on 08/13/2012

WTH are you talking about? Evidently, you didn't read the entire story or skipped this part, "Amish residents also pay the same taxes as other citizens." And, they are not likely drawing money from the government. You can go back to sleep now.

[FMF 2401]

03:48 PM on 08/13/2012

He said Amish residents ALSO PAY the same taxes as other citizens. "The idea that the Amish don't pay taxes is the biggest mythology about the Amish," Donnermeyer said

[oregonian68]

05:21 PM on 08/13/2012

They shouldn't pay as much as we do since they don't use the same services.

[jaggok]

01:17 PM on 08/13/2012

You don't allow outsiders into your community and sooner or later inbreeding is going to be an issue. I think I saw a program on 20/20 or 60 minutes on this and they realize it too.

[gbpattersonjr]

12:42 PM on 08/13/2012

"It's because all of the kids."

Say it ain't so! Having multiple kids increases the populations?