Amish- Not original with me- but still interesting!

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*Not original with me*


Tried to clean up the copy & paste the best I could.

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We compiled a Comprehensive Overview of the Major Branches and Subgroups of Amish to help people realize the vast differences between each group.

Defining every Amish affiliation is more complex than many people realize. To outsiders, the Amish are often perceived as a single uniform culture with identical beliefs and lifestyles. In reality, Amish society is highly decentralized and diverse. Scholars who study Amish communities, particularly researchers associated with institutions such as Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, have developed a specific academic definition of an “affiliation” to help classify this diversity. According to this scholarly definition, an Amish affiliation is a cluster of two or more church districts that share a common history and organizational identity for at least twenty years. Using this standard, researchers have identified more than forty Amish affiliations across North America.
Each affiliation represents a network of congregations that share similar interpretations of the Ordnung, the unwritten rules that govern Amish religious life, technology use, dress, and social behavior. Although all Amish groups trace their roots back to the 17th-century Anabaptist movement in Europe and the leadership of Jakob Ammann, centuries of migration, cultural adaptation, and internal disagreements have led to the formation of numerous distinct subgroups.
These affiliations can generally be grouped into several broad branches based on their level of conservatism and technological acceptance: ultraconservative branches, Old Order mainstream affiliations, progressive or specialized groups, and smaller localized affiliations.

Ultraconservative Amish Branches

The most conservative Amish affiliations maintain the strictest interpretations of traditional Amish practice. These groups often reject technologies and safety adaptations that other Amish communities accept. Their emphasis is on maintaining separation from modern society and preserving what they view as the original Amish way of life.

Nebraska Amish (Old School)

The Nebraska Amish, sometimes called the Old School Amish, are widely regarded as the most conservative Amish affiliation. The group originated in 1881 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, after a dispute over discipline and technological accommodation.

Nebraska Amish communities are distinctive for their white-topped buggies, plain clothing, and strict rejection of modern conveniences. Many homes lack indoor plumbing and window screens, and church districts traditionally resist technologies such as battery lighting. Their conservative practices are intended to preserve humility and prevent excessive comfort or reliance on modern systems.

Swartzentruber Amish

The Swartzentruber Amish emerged in 1913 in Holmes County, Ohio, following a disciplinary dispute. Today they represent one of the largest ultraconservative Amish affiliations.

Swartzentruber communities are known for rejecting modern safety features such as the orange slow-moving vehicle triangle used on most Amish buggies. Instead, they often use reflective tape or kerosene lanterns. Their Ordnung also restricts indoor plumbing, electricity, and many modern farming technologies. Medical practices are sometimes approached cautiously, reflecting a broader skepticism toward modern systems.

Andy Weaver Amish (Danners)

The Andy Weaver Amish, also known as Danners, formed in 1955 in Holmes County, Ohio after disagreements regarding church discipline and social standards. Named after minister Andrew Weaver, this group occupies a middle position between Swartzentruber conservatism and mainstream Old Order Amish.

They share many conservative values but may accept limited technologies that Swartzentruber communities prohibit.

Kenton Amish

The Kenton Amish originated in 1953 in Ohio. Like the Swartzentruber Amish, they maintain strict technological limits and emphasize separation from modern society.

Ashland Amish

Founded in 1954 in Ohio, the Ashland Amish represent another conservative breakaway group within the Holmes County Amish world. Though relatively small, they maintain strict cultural practices.

Byler Amish

The Byler Amish, established in 1849 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, are known for their yellow-topped buggies. Their communities maintain strong traditional practices and represent one of the earlier conservative divisions in Amish history.

Renno Amish

Founded in 1863, the Renno Amish are concentrated in Pennsylvania’s Big Valley region. Their black-topped buggies distinguish them visually from neighboring groups.

Troyer Amish

The Troyer Amish, established in 1931 in Ohio, represent another conservative affiliation emphasizing strict Ordnung observance and community separation.

Old Order Mainstream Affiliations

The Old Order Amish represent the largest and most recognizable branch of Amish society. These groups maintain traditional horse-and-buggy transportation but often permit limited technological adaptations for business or farming.

Lancaster Amish

The Lancaster Amish are the oldest and largest Amish affiliation, tracing their origins to approximately 1760 in Pennsylvania.

Centered in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, this settlement is one of the most famous Amish regions in the world. Lancaster Amish typically use gray buggies and operate a wide range of successful agricultural and manufacturing businesses.

Elkhart–LaGrange Amish

Located primarily in Elkhart County, Indiana and LaGrange County, Indiana, this affiliation began around 1841 and is now the second-largest Amish affiliation.

Many Amish men in this region work in construction and the recreational vehicle manufacturing industry.

Holmes Old Order Amish

Centered in Holmes County, Ohio, the Holmes Old Order Amish trace their origins to 1808. Holmes County contains the largest Amish settlement in the world and is notable for its internal diversity.

Buchanan / Medford Amish

Founded in 1914, the Buchanan or Medford affiliation is the most geographically dispersed Amish group, with church districts in nearly twenty U.S. states.

Geauga Amish

Located in Geauga County, Ohio, the Geauga Amish later divided into two affiliations:

Geauga I (1886) – the larger and somewhat more progressive group, which allows more uses of modern conveniences. Battery scooters and bikes are creeping it's way into the community.

Geauga II also known as the "Number 2's" or "flats" (1962) – a conservative breakaway group. They still utilize community phones.

Arthur Amish

Centered in Arthur, Illinois, this settlement originated in 1864 and functions largely as its own affiliation.

Nappanee Amish

Founded in 1841, the Nappanee Amish are located in northern Indiana and represent a major Amish population center.

Daviess Amish

Located in southern Indiana, the Daviess County Amish began in 1868 and are known for their distinctive open-top buggies.

New Wilmington Amish

Founded in 1847, this Pennsylvania settlement uses brown-topped buggies and has developed its own distinct customs.

Kalona Amish

The Kalona Amish, established in 1846 in Iowa, represent one of the oldest Midwestern Amish settlements.

Somerset Amish

Dating to 1772, the Somerset Amish of Pennsylvania represent another early Amish settlement that developed unique regional customs.

Progressive and Specialized Amish Branches

Not all Amish affiliations are equally conservative. Some groups have adopted more flexible approaches to technology, outreach, and theology.

New Order Amish

The New Order Amish emerged in 1967 in Ohio. They maintain horse-and-buggy transportation but emphasize personal spiritual renewal, evangelism, and stricter moral standards.

Two branches exist:

• Non-electric New Order
• Electric New Order, which allows limited household battery electricity.

Swiss Amish

The Swiss Amish originated from immigrants from Switzerland rather than the German Palatinate.

Two major branches include:

• Adams County Swiss Amish (1850)
• Allen County Swiss Amish (1852)

Unlike most Amish, they speak Swiss German dialects instead of Pennsylvania Dutch.

Michigan-Related Amish

Emerging around 1970, these communities are sometimes described by scholars as more reform-minded or progressive in outlook.

Beachy Amish

The Beachy Amish, founded in 1927 in Pennsylvania, represent a dramatic departure from traditional Amish practice.

They permit:

● Automobiles
● Public electricity
● Mission work and evangelism

As a result, they are often considered closer to conservative Mennonite churches than to traditional Old Order Amish.

Small or Localized Amish Affiliations

In addition to the major affiliations, researchers have identified numerous smaller groups consisting of only a few church districts. These affiliations often form around specific leaders, local disputes, or settlement histories.

Examples include:

Jamesport/Bloomfield Amish (Missouri)
Fredericktown Amish (Ohio)
Kansas/Oklahoma Amish
Milverton Amish (Ontario)
Missouri/Illinois Amish
Tobe Hostetler Amish (Ohio)
Milroy/West Union Amish (Indiana)
Guys Mills/Fredonia Amish (Pennsylvania)
Aylmer Amish (Ontario)
New Order–Tobe Amish (Ohio)
Abe Miller Amish (Tennessee)
New Order Fellowship Amish (Ohio)
Turbotville Amish (Pennsylvania)
Kokomo Amish (Indiana)

The Kokomo Amish are particularly notable for being one of the smallest affiliations, consisting of only two church districts.

Why Amish Affiliations Matter

Understanding Amish affiliations reveals that Amish society is far from monolithic. Each group reflects a unique balance between tradition, theology, and adaptation to modern circumstances.

Despite these differences, all Amish affiliations share core values rooted in the Anabaptist tradition:

• Adult baptism
• Community discipline
• Separation from worldly influence
• Mutual aid within the church

These shared principles help maintain a common identity even as affiliations vary widely in practice.

As Amish populations continue to grow and expand geographically, scholars expect that new affiliations will continue to emerge, further increasing the diversity within Amish society.
Today, Amish communities are spread across hundreds of settlements and thousands of church districts, organized into over forty affiliations according to academic research. These affiliations range from extremely conservative groups that reject most modern technologies to more progressive communities that incorporate limited electricity or automobiles. This remarkable diversity illustrates how Amish culture adapts while remaining rooted in centuries-old religious traditions. Understanding these affiliations helps explain why Amish communities can look very different from one region to another, even though they all trace their heritage back to the same 17th-century Anabaptist movement.

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