The 6 Amish Buggy Colors

What colors are Amish buggies? I take you from the most common Amish buggy color - seen all across the U.S. - to the least common...found in a tiny Pennsylvania community.
The horse-and-buggy (Old Order) Amish are not a one-size-fits-all group. There are a lot of surprising differences between communities. Differences in buggies are just one example.
My name is Erik Wesner and I'm not Amish. But back in 2004, I met the Amish by accident...while selling books door-to-door. Since then, I've visited over 5,000 Amish homes, and dozens of Amish communities. I write about the Amish at amishamerica.com/
Image credits: S.I., Jim Halverson, David Arment, Ed. C, Jerry in PA

[@kimfleury]

This particular topic reminds me once again of that book about the little Amish girl that I read when I was 9. She had to go to an English public school until the community won the lawsuit against the government that allowed them to send their kids to their own schools, and to be able to stop at 8th grade. At the public school, she noticed that all the other kids had buttons on their clothing, whereas her community's clothing was fastened with ties. She asked her grandpa why Amish can't have buttons, and he told her, "Buttons are handholds for the devil." Neither she nor I understood what that meant. When I grew up, I got involved in a Colonial Reenactment community, where our clothing was fastened with ties if we portrayed the poor or lower income workers, and fancy buttons if we portrayed the more well off. The reason was that buttons could be used as _currency_ ! They were made of precious metal and/or jewels. In the period preceding the Industrial Revolution, buttons became one of the early manufactured items, making them much cheaper and definitely not valuable, as they were made of materials like glass and/or cheap metals. The Amish religion began long before manufactured buttons, so they shunned buttons as prideful display of wealth. By the time buttons became cheap, nobody in the Amish communities remembered that buttons were once currency. They just knew they didn't use buttons, and they defended it as tradition, "This is what we've always done." There are probably many Amish traditions that fall into that category, but at the same time, as they consider new technology, they do use reason to determine how far they'll go in adopting it.

[@Ujuani68]

I also heard, that buttons was for soldiers' uniforms, so the Plain People didn't want to be associated with them.

[@kentuckylady2990]

That book is entitled Plain Girl by Virginia Sorensen.

[@ginnystark7227]

The "family" farm that my grandfather and great grandfather built in the very early 1900s was in Enon Valley, Pa. One of my aunts married a Byler. My maternal grandmother was a Miller, but I have no idea if there were any Amish. I know I loved seeing the Amish doing anything as we drove to visit relatives who lived in "Amish Country".

[@AmishAmerica]

Enon Valley is one of the most interesting of all Amish communities to me. Neat that you have some roots there.

[@ginnystark7227]

@@AmishAmerica When I was a kid many Saturdays we would drive to Mercer and I laughed at how they would tie their horse&buggy to the coin parking meter - simply taking a parking space.

[@AmishAmerica]

That's funny!

[@jayemes1552]

There's a lot of videos about Amish people and in the comments there will be at least one person who says "They're not Amish because (insert stereotype here)" Thanks for pointing out that there are many variations between Amish communities and doing some things differently doesn't make some Amish and some not.

[@AmishAmerica]

Glad you made that point Jay. This started out as a simple 6 buggy colors video but it became a chance to make the point about differences across the many Amish groups. That is a main theme. You nailed it when you note that it's common that people say "well they can't be Amish because..." or some variation. I just got a comment on the website nto long ago with someone claiming something similar, that certain Amish featured in a post were not "Old Order Amish". The person had their own definition of what "Old Order Amish" means, and I think that's often the case. You also see phrases like "the real Amish" or "true Amish".

[@valkyrie1066]

Raised in Lancaster County, PA. Saw a lot of grey ones, though black is always...popular. Third generation from Amish; talked to many Amish relatives at our (Illicit?) family reunionl No shunning there. Many of us still make quilts, garden and make the old recipes. All college educated these days, but we keep our favorite things!

[@geraldsieber7266]

I live in Central Pa. and haul Amish. I have been to a lot of different settlements and have seen all 6 of the colors. Families will have relatives in all the different settlements. Rules and regulations vary from community to community not just by the color of the buggy. The Big Valley area with the 3 different colors is very interesting. I have lived neighbors to the Amish for over 60 years and I respect their customs and the people very much.

[@AmishAmerica]

As you know Pennsylvania is the key state to be able to see all six :) I bet you've seen a lot if you have hauled Amish and been neighbors to them for that amount of time. I think it would be quite an interesting job, I have only driven Amish informally.

[@marksieber4626]

Nice last name. My dad lives as close neighbor to white toppers on church hill road

[@patriciaengelsiepen9461]

We live in an Amish area & they have a number of fund raising auctions throughout the year where you’ll see large numbers of their buggies, I mean 70-80 buggies. My husband always says that he’s going to go out and rearrange all of their buggies just to see if they could find the right one!

[@AmishAmerica]

:D

[@stihlhead1]

A bit of a correction. At least in Lancaster county the topped vehicles are called carriages. Most that you see with dual front windows and doors are called storm front carriages. The Bishop, preachers and deacon use an open front version with canvas curtains that can be enrolled from the top during bad weather. Buggies have a narrower and shorter body and have no top. They are used by young folks. There are also spring wagons that have two sets of springs on either side of the rear axle. Some are completely open,some completely closed and some only the seat area is enclosed. These are a sort of pick up truck as they are longer than a carriage and can handle heavier and bulkier loads. Sometimes pulled by two horses rather than one. How do I know this?

[@riggs20]

As a Floridian, I’d vote for white / light colored buggies! Black buggies seem like they’d become ovens in the summer!

[@peteacher52]

Interesting and informative. All kudos to the Amish who live peacefully and productively, who receive much criticism and ridicule but give none back, thereby providing a simple game plan for all of mankind based on 'There is enough for everyone to live comfortably so do not lust for more possessions, power and control.'

[@AmishAmerica]

Glad you thought so Colin, and well said

[@glenmccall8854]

Drove past a barn gathering on a Sunday. At least 50 black buggies, but right up at the front was a glorious, open top, large White buggy. I always figured it was a fancy wedding. buggy.

[@kathleenvisscher9608]

I grew up near New Wilmington PA! I rarely find postcards with this color!! Awesome!! Kathleen

[@jeanholley5820]

I’d love to see you do a video about the Amish horses. I always see the video where the horses are running and I’m curious as to how old they are what type of horses and do they always run

[@barbc7698]

They trot, they don't run. A lot of them are Standardbreds and some of them come from harness racing. I have a retired harness horse, and he can move! I'm English, but I just like driving as a hobby. Some of the buggy horses are Morgan breed, and there are many mixed breeds, including the draft breeds. I have one of those latter- they call it an "all-purpose". She is part draft, probably Belgian. She is the sweetest, most willing mare ever.

[@janeEyreAddict]

They have "buggy horses" and 'work horses" but I don't know breeds unfortunately

[@aydencook3965]

I live about an hour from Springs Pa, an Amish community in Somerset county. They have a weekly farmer’s market every Saturday from May to the middle of September. They also have a Folk fest in October with music and food.

[@isaweesaw]

You can have any buggy colour, as long as it's black ;) Another one of those questions I never thought about till reading the title. Thanks for the info!

[@AmishAmerica]

Absolutely - this video was fun to make.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

I swear some of the buggies you can only tell apart by the horse used!

[@faithfulforever6331]

Very interesting, especially the yellow buggies. I too think it had to do with that kind of yellow rubber/canvas being water resistant. When I was boy, many years ago, the majority of raincoats were that yellow color.

[@EllenRHrach]

All my life I have lived a few miles from if not within the New Wilmington PA Amish area. I thought, of ,course that the brown buggies were (the) Amish buggies. Ahh, live and l earn!

[@earthmotherdragon4572]

The funny thing with the Amish is that this is how you used to live in the old Europe, one church in each community, or semi large community. All over Europe actually. x

[@shammydammy2610]

The ones in the area of Wisconsin I moved from are black, a box with a slight curve at the very bottom.

[@ah5721]

If I was Amish I would want my husband to purchase a yellow topped one so we could find it in the the parking area !

[@hanniss9]

Thank you very much for sharing this, Erik! Seems like Amish youth is not that much different compared to English. Just different type vehicle ;).

[@CaptainSeamus]

You forgot the 7th color... Ford Tractor blue... lmao... we have two main groups here in the Yoder/Partridge area of Kansas - one group uses black buggies, and the other is using small tractors with trailers - mostly older blue Ford tractors, some newer - but yeah, there are definitely differences between the various clans. Great to see this stuff!

[@AmishAmerica]

😅 yes they are quite on the liberal end there and in Hutchinson

[@CaptainSeamus]

@@AmishAmerica For sure - we were at Wal Mart last night, and there were 2 families in doing their shopping - and sure enough, outside was the tractor with the enclosed trailer hooked on... Welcome to Hutchinson, where you can see an SR-71 and the actual Apollo 13 Command Module, as well as the Amish, all inside of 10 minutes!

[@bostonrailfan2427]

question: the yellow is rare, but perhaps it’s the remnant of the gray buggies’ past? any possible connection there?

[@habituallinestepper8839]

Live near New Wilmington PA our Amish neighbors use brown/orange carriages. And I’m glad because they can be hard to spot as it is.

[@barbc7698]

Here where I live in WNY, the buggies in our Amish community are the brown color. I didn't know they were tied to the New Wilmington community. A few miles up the road, there is another community, where all the buggies are black. They look so old-fashioned, which is funny. Buggies ARE old fashioned. But the Amish community are great neighbors.

[@AmishAmerica]

Neat - there are some New Wilmington-origin Amish in Fort Plain area, off the top of my head, and then also near Whitehall by the VT border which first came from that Fort Plain community. Great to hear they are good neighbors, I think a lot of people wouldn't mind having Amish in their area!

[@mauriziohelmutodermatt7903]

You can find a lot of the history of the big valley groups in the book Rosanna of the Amish

[@robertnielsen2461]

Jean Holly, I've been in Lancaster County a few times and have never seen them run their horses,trotting perhaps but never running.

[@conniereese9914]

I was born and raised in Lewistown, Mifflin Co Pa. U will see alot of yellow buggies around Bellefonte. Now i live in Lancaster Pa and Im not amish.

[@junqueboi387]

Even the Amish cannot resist Little Trees! I buy them whenever I see them at the store since their parent company Car-Freshner is still NY-based.

[@AmishAmerica]

There you go - buggies need fresheners too! That photo was taken at an auction in Pennsylvania. I don't know what Black Ice smells like but the ice part makes me think something menthol.

[@lonestar4374]

Lol😀

[@watsisbuttndo829]

Saw that too, should of hung it on the back end of the horse.

[@SantaFe19484]

Nice video!

[@orvilleclisby6748]

A buggy is enough horsepower.

[@carolreid4821]

Have the light coloured buggies statistically had less accidents than the dark?

[@carolmoore5931]

I live around a lot of Amish in different counties here in N Michigan I am loving your videos and learning more about there lives ,we have many stores ran by them also ,but I was hoping you could do a video on Amish in Michigan,N Michigan, ,,,, McBain , Cadillac , surrounding areas , I would love to know more! Thank you for sharing your knowledge,!

[@dlou3264]

Six is an important number in many ways, in many places. Interesting.

[@cynthiarothrock4255]

The yellow looks like the school bus color developed in the 1950s.

[@mauriziohelmutodermatt7903]

Is that a Kachelofen behind you!!!?

[@zelphx]

1) I vote for the last, rarest, color (my favorite color is yellow... in MODERATION. 2) When I first heard scooters, I thought of my beloved Vespa Scooter. Sadly, they missed out on being the COOLEST sect in the world, transportation-wise.

[@glenmccall8854]

In worship services, is the music acapella?

[@chavelsolomon7758]

I would like to buy a buggy with a yellow top

[@mikepodrasky9405]

When visiting friends in Allensville PA I noticed black buggies to be very common. They all had different colored tops. Never got a good explanation for this. Any comments?

[@AmishAmerica]

In the Big Valley settlement in that area of Mifflin County there are three main Amish groups. One of the differences that developed were the different colors of buggy tops. The white-top group is overall the most conservative. You'll also find black and yellow tops. There's no symbolism to it, some of these cultural traits develop over time, sometimes for unknown or forgotten reasons. Another such peculiarity in that community is that in some of the groups the men just wear one suspender, worn diagonally across the body

[@mikepodrasky9405]

Thank you. I thought it had to do with which group Bishop? They belong to. Enjoy the videos. As a Christian I find your videos very informative. Takes away a lot of the mystery and misunderstanding

[@spink91able]

There are actually two different yellow top sects in Big Valley and they have different rules. One is the Byler and the other is the Swarey.

[@jomama5186]

Super interesting!

[@lindawild6568]

The ones we saw in Michigan were black, mostly square

[@marylouw2890]

Can you tell some of the courting traditions among the Amish.

[@kennethmccann6402]

I'd like ask you some questions. Why does have tiny windows on both side and rear cargo of buggy? Is there a safety glass on windshield from flying objects toward getting themselves cut from glass? Does they go for a ride on rainy weather and have a manual windshield wipers? It is comfortable while seating with the bumpy soil or roads? Also, do they have buggies insurance just in case horse or buggy hit another vehicle or person? Just like auto insurance. A Beautiful Amish people and thanks!

[@AmishAmerica]

Buggy designs can really differ across Amish groups, so that for example some buggies have glass on the front (they are called "storm fronts") aka the "windshield", while others do not (in the more conservative groups) and some have a removable front which is taken out in warmer months. Windows are generally for passengers to b able to see out. Some buggies do have manually-operated windshield wipers. From the times I've ridden in buggies, I would say they can be pretty cramped and not necessarily the most comfortable ride. Some of the more progressive Amish have rubber on the wheels which I guess makes it a bit better. Good questions. (I re-posted my answers here on this thread and deleted it on the first thread you posted because it fit better on this video topic).

[@marciaborg77]

Which just outside of browerville Minnesota going down to long prairie there is a farming equipment area there. When my mom and I where driving by it I saw some Amish men outside talking which it had the John Deer Tractor Equipment there. I thought they used a horse to do the plowing not John Deer Equipment.

[@gingercox6468]

Yellow is a safety color, that color is on school buses and yellow road lines.

[@lonestar4374]

I thought there are blue buggies someplace also,or photos I've seen here and there anyway. Kinda surprised bout the Yellow and White though. I grew up amish but we only had black. Now those Open buggies Without the Tops,were used for the Young People,and buggies With the Tops,were for after you were Married. But you're right, a brighter color would maybe be some safer for'm atleast! After dark especially.

[@youtubesucks898]

Hi there. I grew up Amish also and that was the first thing I wanted to tell everyone. Lol Those open top small buggies were only driven by young folks in the 3 different Amish communities that I lived in. Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa. What state did you grow up in?

[@kylelopez629]

I thought Lancaster I miss buggy at first when I came there. I thought it was black but I really like that is gray because I just came from I meant oh yeah I think it’s a 2 Hour Dr. I meant is the opposite say yes ignored of heart.

[@michelletrimmer7431]

I'm curious. Can they trick out their buggies? Like the younger Amish people? Are there rules about this?

[@AmishAmerica]

Some youth do add accessories like hunting decals or other images, also extra/flashier lights and sometimes sound systems

[@lawrence7065]

Very interesting

[@AmishAmerica]

Glad you liked it!

[@davidleonard3887]

Why would you have a car freshener in a open buggy

[@DouglasMoon-w8n]

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[@jeremywentworth1833]

If Katie price was Amish her buggy would be pink , she isn't that's why her Aston Martin dbs Bentley continental GT and numerous Range rovers are bright pink

[@KameraShy]

Do Amish ride horseback?

[@kenrosser8160]

You never talk about the group in fla east of sarasota they have the black ones an alot of them can hold 6 people

[@AmishAmerica]

The Pinecraft Amish that you are talking about have been in at least a couple videos so far. But they actually do not use buggies there, which makes it kind of a unique community. Mainly tricycles, bicycles, etc. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmLIZoh_pbB_jNE kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2LHdKmkdq-ba6s

[@evamaggard]

All the buggys I seen in Missouri was black…. 2021

[@patty4709]

Color coded the different clans

[@EverettDenny-rd7ed]

LET'S SEE NOW.......there's midnite black....root cellar black...barn loft black...burnt wood black...holstein black...belted galloway black and angus black.....???!!!!!

[@colemahaney880]

why not red or yellow

[@ulrichvonliechtenstein6138]

There are yellow ones

[@stephenlangsl67]

So then there not all black.

[@annahkurtin5345]

Could someone convince them to put LIGHTS, big lights on their vehicles. I defend their right to drive them but they scare me, especially here in the hills and curves of unlit country roads.

[@AmishAmerica]

You must be in an area with plainer Amish. The lanterns are not very bright nor is the reflective tape on the plainest buggies.

[@annahkurtin5345]

@@AmishAmerica I live in an area with dangerous, frightening buggies and endangered horses.

[@mq5276]

Here in Lancaster county they have LED lights. They have multiple reflectors. I've seen blue and green LEDs under the buggies. I've seen bumper stickers on buggies. I have Amish friends, Amish neighbors, our landlord is Amish. My daughter drives for and works with Amish. My granddaughter's babysitter is Amish and she dresses Amish when she attends functions.

[@UserQuizno]

Swartzentrubers will still insist on kerosene anywhere there shall be light. Good luck telling them to have the reflective triangles or some LED lighting on the buggy.

[@susiearviso3032]

He's pretty good looking, but buggys? ... ZZZZzzz