The Amish in Virginia (10+ Communities)

Where do the Amish live in Virginia? I take you through VA's 10+ Amish settlements, from remote mountain valleys to the Northern Neck.
What can you do when visiting these communities? Which Amish stores are worth a visit? I highlight some of my favorite Amish businesses in the state - and other interesting aspects of Virginia Amish communities.
Amish have found the Old Dominion State an attractive place to settle over the past decade (Virginia has added seven new communities since 2012). I finish with a look into the past at several historic Amish settlements in the stat, which for various reasons have ceased to exist.
My name is Erik Wesner and I'm not Amish. Back in 2004, I met the Amish while selling books door-to-door. Since then, I've visited 5,000+ Amish homes & dozens of Amish communities. I run the Amish America website. More: amishamerica.com/
Images - Most images in this video are my own, except for the following public domain, creative commons, or contributed images:
Burkes Garden aerial: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Stuarts Draft sign:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Pearisburg: Amish America reader Shawn
DC street: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing...
DC market:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 79, National Museum Building Construction Records, Image No. SIA2009-1992
Shenandoah Valley:
picryl.com/media/spring-plant...
Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer
Amish population: 2020-2021 Amish population figures in this video via the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College (groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/). Note: the population numbers for Charlotte County have recently been re-estimated at 440, but it remains the largest Amish settlement in the state.
Articles:
"Two Northern Neck changes: Arrival of Mennonite and Amish, and business growth" by Rob Hedelt, January 11, 2020, The Free Lance-Star
fredericksburg.com/news/local...
"Amish store in Chatham welcomes all" by Vicki Morrison, November 18, 2014, Danville Register & Bee
richmond.com/amish-store-in-c...
Books mentioned:
The Amish in America: Settlements That Failed, 1840 - 1960 by David Luthy www.google.com/books/edition/...
Growing Up Amish: The Rumspringa Years by Richard Stevick www.google.com/books/edition/...
Hat tip to Richard Stevick for additional info on the Pearisburg community's interpretation practice.

[@AmishAmerica]

Hi everybody, thanks for all the great comments! And for helping my pronunciation of these tricky VA place names 😎 Which state(s) should I do next?

[@wickedone6476]

🤣 you said taze well.....it's pronounced taz like the Tasmanian devil , the e isn't pronounced the a sound is the same a sound as the word tap like tap dancing just drop the p and add a z taz-well (or for people from the southwest portion of Virginia's pronunciation , taz-wool) . Nice video brother . Burke's Garden is really nice , really most of the rural hilly mountainous areas of Virginia are quite beautiful. There used to be some Amish who would sell different types of food at a fleamarket in Norton Virginia and Tazewell County at a fleamarket as well . Jams and jellies they make are very good.

[@bryanlineberry5502]

Buries garden was were Biltmore estate was going to be built but, one family would not sell their land,

[@AmishAmerica]

I remember reading that, neat detail. I think it would be a quite different place today had the estate been built there

[@farmcentralohio]

I'd like to see you do something next on Ohio. I live in Knox county and have traveled to Holmes county since I was young with my parents. The hills and neat and tidy farms in the Holmes area have always been my ideal place to be

[@bebeveritas7306]

Are there Amish communities in remote states like Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Main or Michigan?

[@stephanieporter3549]

I live in Cumberland county and the Amish families here are so loving and such an amazing group of people. I shop at pine view all the time.

[@peggylindemann7905]

Guess you don't know the history of what happens behind closed doors. Can easily read the horror stories

[@lavasiouxwindwater9789]

We're considering buying land in Cumberland.

[@stevenfreebairn2553]

I really appreciate the respect with which you treat and talk about the Amish!

[@AmishAmerica]

Thank you Steven, I'm glad to hear that

[@myfairlady5050]

I just visited Burke Garden and went to Mattie’s Place. She made us lunch. It was amazing. She was really friendly and we had a good conversation. She seems to be a great person, she bakes, runs the store and restaurant, has a garden out back, and beautiful flower gardens in the front. Very impressive.

[@cavemanstechgaming9811]

I've lived in Charlotte county my whole life. And I tend to go to the produce auction quite a bit. I remember when they first started doing it I mainly went for the baked goods that they would sell along with the sandwiches. Really great food.

[@scotts1008]

Would Charlotte County be a good place for a young person to homestead in your opinion?

[@ctg18158]

Where is the cabinet shop in Charlotte County ?

[@BetsyH]

I have so much respect for the Amish. Thank you for posting the stores, I love their stores.

[@kellyschmitt683]

Really enjoy your informative videos! I am from Ohio originally but have lived in Virginia for over 30 years. Just for future reference Tazewell is usually pronounced with a long A…Taaz-well not tayzwell. And Fauquier is pronounced Fah-keer. Hope that’s helpful.

[@TheSquirrelgirl55]

I live in Halifax County, VA. I knew we have an established Amish community but did not realize we were the second largest. Nice, informative video!

[@suzannehedderly1331]

The Windmill! Those fry pies! ❤️

[@chuckwilkins8961]

The Northern Neck (Richmond, Northumberland, Westmoreland and Lancaster counties) now have 24 families of Old Order Amish and 5 families of Mennonites. The majority are in Richmond county in the Farnham area. These families come mainly from Pennsylvania , Maryland and Wisconsin.

[@cutupdon]

True I know there out that way around callo

[@dmbalsam]

3 Mennonite families are on my street. One family has a farm stand next to our mailbox. These Mennonites are from Maryland and are all related.

[@pjposton5001]

MIDland is in Texas, MidLAND is in Fauquier (Fauk-year) County.

[@janiceisaacs6755]

I've been living in VA about 10 years, originally from IN. So happy to have come across this video as I have seriously missed the Amish. Good to know where to take a weekend drive ❤

[@AmishAmerica]

Glad to hear it Janice. Hope you enjoy some nice visits 👍

[@cherylbertolini3140]

the Amish in Farmville come to Montpelier for fairs they have all kinds of food for sale:) whoopee pies, shoo fly pie hand pies and more:)

[@MrJrgord]

Tazewell is pronounced like it doesn’t have the first ‘e’ - like the first syllable of Tasmania.

[@AmishAmerica]

Thanks, good to know

[@JRAHIT]

Farmville is actually in Prince Edward County. Cumberland County is the next county over. There is a very popular Amish furniture store on Main St, called Amish Originals. I lived there for 20 years or so, and my parents still do.

[@AmishAmerica]

Yes I probably should have noted - the county where the Amish (or most of the Amish) are said to live might be different from the one containing the town that the Amish settlement is referred to by - especially when this main town is on the very edge of the county, like in this case with Farmville

[@ReleaseTheQuackers]

@@AmishAmerica Also LOTS of Amish and Mennonites in Buckingham County and moving into Fluvanna County

[@wickedone6476]

Unless it closed down there was a Amish store that sold baked goods and jams in Farmville not far from Tom's Country Store and Route 15 .

[@nightmicu]

Just left the Northern Neck for the River City just around the time that the Amish settled. Miss the area so much but family and friends still there, just an hour and a half east. So happy to see the warning signs to look out for their buggies. :)

[@harmonyleonard7416]

Amish families from Ohio have been purchasing property in Highland County VA for the last two years. Jackson River Bakery and Deli on Rt 220 S only 2 miles or so from Monterey sells fresh baked goods on Friday, Saturday and Monday. As of this writing 8 families have moved to the area with more looking to purchase property mainly between Monterey and Vanderpool.

[@jayedwards4863]

I lived in pittsyvania county all my life. In straight stone, Virginia there was a store in early 2000's run by the amish family. She said the store failed because they refused to sell beer and alcohol. Plus they missed the grandchildren. The yoder family is still there running a successful business. I think he is a beachy amish or mennonite from Lancaster county.

[@leonb2637]

One of the communities you discussed, Burke's Garden, was the hometown of the driver of a van, 78 Amish persons killed, a 2 year old injured but survived who were visiting a community in Wisconsin.

[@valkyrie1066]

Thank you! My grandparents were Amish (Lancaster, Pa) and I grew up near a community. I can't wait to check out the Amish businesses near where we are moving in Virginia. Not to join the order, mind you, but I have affection and respect for them, and go to the auctions and stores with great delight. It gives me a feeling of peace to live nearby. I am over the moon to get my hands dirty; and grow some vegetables again!!! And I haven't had a PROPER apron in years.

[@RickSterling]

I live in Tazewell .. Go to Matties place all the time. Also buy from other Amish there.

[@terrychancellor4593]

Fauquier is pronounced 'Faw kier'. I'm from there and a few Amish and Mennonites still live in Midland. Great bakery there as well as auction house.

[@BMass83]

Fauquier is such a ridiculous name but it’s pronounced Fawk- Cure. I hope that helps! I am from Northern VA and I know we have a larger Mennonite population, but I never realized we had such wonderful Amish communities in the state. I can’t wait to explore a bit. Thank you

[@AmishAmerica]

Thanks! Yes it is cool to see the number of VA communities really going up in recent years. Happy visiting and enjoy the food

[@annaward3500]

Interesting! I’m also from Northern VA and I’ve always pronounced it “Fawk-keer,” although I haven’t met anyone from the county to ask 😆 This video and it’s comments has been so informative.

[@BMass83]

@@annaward3500 Thankfully I think it’s one of those names people can pronounce a little differently and everyone still understands it. I have a bit of “country” twang thrown in thanks to many many hours spent with my southern family members, so that may twist mine a bit.

[@youngguns1319]

I live right on the county line of fauqier and warren county I always laugh when I hear people say it when I played football when we’d face their school a joke was when people asked who do we tonight we’d say fauqier high school and people says f your high school lol

[@bebeveritas7306]

I went to school and there were two Amish or Mennonite, not sure which, girls in my class. I think they were from different communities. They both wore the net prayer caps but one girl dressed plain, & one wore more bright colors or flowers. Both dressed modestly. One girl, had a special gym suite that was the same as ours suites with the exception of a knee length skit added. Both girls were ver nice, friendly and well liked.

[@donnawiseman9311]

Very interesting. I live in Virginia, and I enjoyed hearing about the Amish settlements in our state.

[@patclark3311]

I live in Virginia, have all my life, so this is really interesting to me. I didn't realize that there were so many Amish here. Love these shows.

[@jackphillips3512]

I remember the Amish in the Stuart's Draft area back in the 70s. It seems like there were quite a few not too far away in the Harrisonburg/Staunton area but they could have been Mennonite but did the buggies. I was in elementary school so I could be getting some of those mixed up.

[@eskienut]

You need to come back to FarmVille to see how it has grown. More stores and so many more families have moved down.

[@jamesjacobs8785]

My mom was raised in Burke’s Garden, not far from the general store. The county name is pronounced with a soft A.

[@debbimeyersbrant5752]

Very enlightening I didn't know that a lot of those Amish communities existed thank you for the information

[@niferanne53]

You would appreciate the Stuart’s Draft community. It is warm and welcoming, and shares in many of the things you identified you mentioned in this video.

[@nickhill8612]

We go to the cheese shop and the donut shop often. I believe the place we pick strawberries from, I think their Amish.

[@AmishAmerica]

Neat to hear that, seems I've heard positive things in the past, maybe it was on the website. That is mainly a Beachy Amish church in that area, correct? I know there is a horse-and-buggy Mennonite community not too far away at Dayton.

[@Chief_Kevin]

@@AmishAmerica you are correct, there is a Beachy Amish church in Stuart's Draft

[@ConfederateHokie]

It's pronounced "Taz well" county. Burkes Garden is also known as "Gods Thumbprint" from the way it looks from the air. Absolutely gorgeous place. They also have a very nice festival every year that features many types of local goods. Coming up in a couple weeks, I think.

[@gregallsmagic]

I live in Phenix in Charlotte County. I moved here in 2017. I can say there are definitely a lot of Amish folks around. Also a lot of farmlands and businesses the Amish control. It’s nice to see versus being in the city of Lynchburg where I use to live,

[@myracompton5727]

I live near Burkes Garden they do a festival every fall in September which is supposed to be this coming Saturday, food, crafts, etc. Really glad Biltmore was not built there would definitely have messed up our small country small town living around here! :)

[@mkeller18]

The ATM reminded me that the first time I ever saw a chip and pin credit card reader was in an Amish shop.

[@buckonghambeast2658]

That one in Farmville is all through buckingham and cumberland I've met a lot of them

[@ctanthony09]

We live in Charlotte County. We love our Amish Neighbors. There is another small community just up the road that just formed very recently in Gladys, Va Campbell County (Pigeon Run Rd I believe)

[@AmishAmerica]

Neat to hear that, it's a beautiful area and I'm happy to see how it's grown - I first visited there also in 2011 and it was just one church district in size then as well. I had not heard anything about Gladys and don't see it listed in the latest listings - maybe that's a very new one? The Halifax County (Nathalie) community is not too far from that area.

[@suzannehedderly1331]

I travel 360 regularly between Richmond and South Boston and I noticed when the "Share the Road" signs went up in Charlotte Co.

[@theskyisturquoise]

I thought they were more of the mennonite variety? At least that's what I've been told by my friends in the Gladys/Rustburg/Brookneal area.

[@tracyleay]

Grew up in Kempsville and very clearly remember the Mennonite community there. Nice people

[@TonyFarley-pv3nk]

You know the grim reaper he's got this big long saw blade right if you cut a little notch in it you can fruit farm in the leave lay of your inside of the corn

[@AEFarnam]

There's literally a whipping post and shaded stalls at the Walmart in Dayton for buggies, it's wild.

[@juanitagomez6216]

I admire the ladies how they keep going in cleaning cooking ironing clothes and washing clothes and dishes and getting kids dressed up for school or church and having Energy how do they keep going with Energy on and on even making clothes for the family and quilts

[@hammerjammer1]

Thank you for your videos. I really enjoy them. Just to help, as you mentioned, the pronunciation of Tazewell County is TAZ like in Tasmania. Also to let you know in Washington County, VA we have had a family or two of Amish that lived here for many years before returning to their original home place. We do seem to be having some Mennonite families that have recently moved to Washington County in the last 5 yrs. There are also some Amish/Mennonite families in Wythe County, VA that run a very popular store. Just info for future reference in case you are ever back this way. Thank you for your work on YT.

[@AmishAmerica]

Thanks Tammy! I'm glad to learn the proper pronunciations. I'm sure to flub some of them. Despite going there I'm not sure I ever heard this one spoken by a native. Thanks for the notes on the other communities too. I won't be surprised if the VA plain population keeps growing at a good pace.

[@ItsSusieQue96]

There is also a small Amish and Mennonite area in SW Va between Galax and Hillsville. I don’t think it’s very substantial but there is a store with a deli and Amish items and I periodically see them at a local park.

[@zacktube100]

I went to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA and never new about the Amish in Pearisburg. In August of this year, I was driving to Lewisburg, WV and, maybe an hour from Pearisburg but in WV, I saw a guy driving a buggy and a few buggy signs.

[@boostcustomer2960]

I live right down the mountain in white gate

[@Louie-ne5mg]

That was my brother-in-law David miller had the store in Chatham Virginia he was a Canadian and moved back to Canada

[@nancylourose]

Potatoes can grow well in compost piles, so the discarded peel story could easily be true

[@hammerjammer1]

Enjoyed the video and appreciate the links you provided in the description. If I could help with one pronunciation for you…Tazewell County. Is pronounced like jazz…Tazz-well. I thought you would want to know. Thank you for the work you do. It’s nice to see all of the places you visit.

[@shlomovenezia101]

Great report!

[@keepnitredneck5578]

I live in Charlotte County, which is the largest Amish population in the state of Virginia and I live directly across the street from the Amish

[@crazywisdom2]

Great vid. thank you ! Very interesting...

[@sarahball-ruck846]

About 16:30- talked about Fauquier County VA it is pronounced Fa-cure

[@lindafitz3459]

There is still a small Amish community in the Stuart's Draft area. They have a shop named The Cheese Shop, and even have brought an Amish discount grocery in from Pennsylvania 6 miles away in Waynesboro. Most of them have had to leave because of growing industry in the area.

[@harolddenton6031]

I have quaker lines in northeast Tennessee nearby jonesborough. One of my 2 nd great grandfathers was a woods who had married into droak/droke families. I also have a (4 th)great grandfather who was Thomas King married to a nichols lady. He was born in lancaster,pa. They settled in piney flats,tn in the 1800's. At the local fairview methodist church community grave yard you can still find the old 1800's quaker one room church still standing on the cemetery grounds.

[@mak.741]

Thanks for the great videos . One of few channel with good news. Good job. Keep it up! God bless you n much love from 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@eddiemcboss7080]

Could you do a video about the difference between old order mennonites, Amish, beachy amish and “Russian mennonites”. I’ve been following you’re site from northern Sweden for a while and I was super happy to see you start posting KZbin video’s.

[@AmishAmerica]

Very cool to hear and greets to you in northern Sweden. I spent a week in the country way back when, visited Malmö, Lund and Stockholm in the dead of winter. Good ideas for videos - will think about that, if so I'd probably look at the groups one by one to make it a bit simpler. Glad you found the channel too 👍

[@TeresaHodges1]

The sandwiches from the Amish store in Pearisburg are so good! The people are always so friendly.

[@tommuscatello5999]

On January 5 , 2023, we drove from Binghamton NY to Weaver's Amish store in Morris NY. Much to our dismay and surprise, it was a cash/check only place. They do not accept credit cards or debit cards. Just an FYI. I do not know if this is typical in rural Amish Communities outside of Lancaster and Holmes Counties.

[@marcsingleton9430]

While the numbers may be lower, In the Central Virginia Area, There are many Mennonites. They are the friendliest people you would ever meet. Campbell County area, Rustburg VA

[@natalieb.1254]

These communities in Virginia take trips to Williamsburg Virginia and tour the Historic part of the Capitol. I imagine one aspect is due to the Historic Williamsburg showcases craftsmen interpreters in Cabinetry, Wheelwrights and Brick Masons of the 18th century.

[@AmishAmerica]

Nice example that era is fascinating for people of all stripes...for the Amish those are also old-fashioned ways :)

[@aloveoutreach]

Love your videos Erik! Your book "Success Made Simple" is an all-time favorite of mine. Was a tremendous help for me when starting my delivery business 9 years ago. Appreciate your work!

[@AmishAmerica]

You are very kind! Glad you found the book and the channel. Credit to my Amish business sources on that one too 👍👍

[@jangraber2404]

Been to Burkes Garden, been in the General Store. The little white Lutheran church at the top of the mountain was started by husband's relative. A very out-of-the way place.

[@AmishAmerica]

That's a beautiful church and setting.

[@glutenfreejoe6099]

Great videos you got me wanting to go to the Lancaster County Amish Markets here in Maryland they are all very nice and great food and great furniture and more

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

I have been to the Pineview store many times and I have gotten to know some of the locals. Extremely nice people. I've been to Burke Garden once, but I drove in from the northwest up beside a creek. Not over a mountain. Very nice vid.

[@AmishAmerica]

Neat - I'm curious now, as the way I was talking about in the video also comes in from the northwest, and also by a creek. But maybe our perception of "mountain" is different :) The other route I was told about, and drove partway up, is on the southeast (dirt road). Looking closer at Google maps it looks like there is actually one more route, presumably also dirt road and lots of turns, going out the east/northeast side. I'm going to have to explore that one next time

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

@@AmishAmerica Yes we went in by the same route. I saw on google map that the southeast road was dirt, so I came in by the creek. I was on my Harley in 2006. From what you said I thought the southeast road may have been paved by now. The bottom of the bowl at Burkes Garden is over 3000 feet. It's also known as Gods Thumb Print. I don't remember if you said that. Omar is a great guy and runs a clean store. The area is 80 miles from us. My wife and I go there metal detecting. There was a cavalry battle where the Pineview store sets during the retreat of the civil war. Having lunch from the deli is a big plus anytime we go there. The Amish that live there are the only Amish we have gotten to know. They are very nice hard working people. Also light hearted and comical people.

[@AmishAmerica]

Gotcha - yes and the southeast entrance also looks extremely windy. I'd like to try it one day though. I forgot to mention God's Thumbprint, wish I had though, great nickname :) And neat to hear you know Omar, he seems like a good guy and doing well at his business. I get ribbed on good-naturedly sometimes by Amish friends so I know what you mean, love it

[@greymarket6834]

there are horse and buggy communities near Dayton, VA and close there around harrisonburg area of the valley

[@jd218]

My wife and I always stop on 220 just below Montery.great sandwich sit out on porch picnic table beautiful view.

[@susank.4945]

O.o THe algorithm is AMAZING. I'm in NOVA and have seen Amish here and been wondering...

[@malisemary1]

Hi while we use to go to my family reunions in Bridgewater in Virginia, there was an Amish Market there.

[@brendahaire8824]

Burke’s Garden is a pretty little town.

[@suzannehedderly1331]

Thank you for this video. Very interesting that there's a strong Amish community in Nathalie. I'm from Halifax County and my grandmother was from Nathalie/Lennig. I used to love to go out to the old farmhouse. I wonder who owns it now. I remember Mennonites in the area but now seems to be more Amish. You need to stop by The Windmill Bakery in South Boston. Delicious fry pies!

[@AmishAmerica]

Good to know about that one, thanks! On one of my last visits I stopped at a Mennonite bakery on the way down to the Amish community - Rosie's Cozy Kitchen (in Gladys, VA). Simple and nice place

[@PinkHawk191]

I am a lifelong Marylander! Love my beautiful state!

[@jorjorsquadron304]

Another great video dude! Thank you! I love your videos and have followed several other related pages for quite some time. I love the AnaBaptists! But I was also wondering about something if it’s ok for me to ask. Will you ever do a video addressing some of the problems that some ex Amish have talked about in regards to incestuous abuse? I saw another video about victims coming forward. I’m sure most aren’t like this and how they care about their reputation.

[@AmishAmerica]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I've covered that topic on the website in a number of posts, I hadn't thought about a video. As you suggest, it's of course not "the norm", but as with abuse cases in non-Amish settings, some families or even communities may see this perpetuated. I know there have been some fairly recent efforts to encourage reporting when there is abuse. It's not generally the norm to get outsiders involved in the church, but when criminal acts happen it needs to be done to protect current and potential future victims, and hopefully more and more people understand that. Also good to note there are many different Amish communities, and some communities are more used to engaging with law enforcement than others.

[@jorjorsquadron304]

@@AmishAmerica understood, thanks!

[@yesmaam1]

I live here in "Nath-a_lie" I work for them.. the Amish are so very kind to me. I know most everyone of them very well

[@yesmaam1]

Well nath_ah_lee to be exact 🤣

[@sharonfromva]

Farquier= fah kier short i lol i have lived near many of their settlements

[@susank.4945]

I've seen the "Amish" selling goods in Manassas Farm market in NOVA. It's actually not very far from Midland..hmm. And I heard some live out on Chincoteague island but never saw them when I lived on the Eastern Shore.

[@donaldglass2270]

Hill top bulk foods has sold out to millers surplus on pierces trail in Nathalie va. Since your video was made.

[@AmishAmerica]

Thanks, do you know is it still known as Hill Top? I was last in there in 2019 I believe. I went by Miller's that visit, but it was past closing time

[@Roadtripmik]

Just 40 miles from Philadelphia is bart township where 60% speak german/swiss and are amish

[@charliemarlenewuester5261]

Can you do some type of video for someone who is new to the Amish culture? My family and I have moved from Colorado to Ohio. And I've never been around a lot of Amish before.

[@buckspa]

Virginia has such great county names - Goochland, Pittsylvania, Dinwiddie. I think 'Fauquier' is pronounced 'faw KEER'.

[@AmishAmerica]

Great examples. I really enjoy just looking at odd names on maps. MaryLee on this thread said something not exactly the same but similar as far as Fauquier pronunciation. Sounds better than what I came up with anyway:D

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

Ive lived in VA my whole life, county, cities and street names are all silly here. lol

[@suzannehedderly1331]

I've always heard it pronounced this way...faw-keer.

[@gloriajstump5994]

DAYTON and STUARTS DRAFT , VIRGINIA ALSO HAS HAD FOR OVER 50 YEARS AMISH FAMILIES LIVING THERE.

[@richardmaryman3494]

Fauquier Country is pronounced (phonetically FawKEER county. Leesburg is the big city and county seat.

[@robertalantickle160]

Tazewell is pronounced with a "short a" sound.

[@jojorey6886]

My mother in law used to travel to the Amish community, I’m not sure which one, maybe PA. She would buy sausage and pack it in a cooler to bring back to MA. She also would buy a couple of quilts, some of which I still have. They would put a mistake in the quilt which was cleverly done, you did not notice unless you really studied the quilt. I copied one because I quilt and after careful study I found the mistake but it was deliberately added to the quilt. I’d like to travel to Amish county with my grandchildren. I went when I was little girl in the 60s.

[@emmib1388]

yes , that 'mistake' you found would identify the person who made the quilt!

[@bessiemann7468]

Burke's Garden in God's thumb print. It's beautiful in the Fall. I live close to it

[@sharonfromva]

Tazewell has the short a sound

[@brendahaire8824]

Mattie’s Place serves the best food

[@ZacharyMeeks86]

Nicest people you'll ever meet. I've been to Walker Valley Market hundreds of times when I was doing Electrical work at the PrisonS WWTP just down the road. The food is awesome. I live now over 3hr away it it is worth the drive for just 1 of those sandwiches.

[@AmishAmerica]

I meant to mention the local corrections facility in this video, but forgot. What a beautiful setting it is in. When I was in the market last time, they had just done an employee appreciation day for the prison workers. You must have gotten to know the market well! I think I had a reuben or sth with pastrami last time, it was great

[@jeanjohnson8492]

My parents retired to Halifax County, VA, to Nathalie! There are also Mennonites, both Old Order and more Modern ones, in the area. Are you referring to the Amish in Charlotte County, VA who are from St. Mary's County, MD (originally from Lancaster, PA? I grew up in the DC area in MD and went to the Amish Market that has produce, goods, and baked goods Thurs, Fri, & Sat. There is also the Lancaster, PA Amish who come down Thurs, Fri & Sat to Burtonsville, MD (DC suburb). They also have all kinds of market stalls as well as a restaurant and a furniture store. I have seen the Amish in Chatham and in Gretna also.

[@AmishAmerica]

That's the group - the Charlotte County community with roots in St. Marys Co, MD. Neat to hear you went to that market, as you know there are a number of those PA Dutch/Amish markets in the MD/DC area and kind of a neat way to "visit Amish Country" or at least their businesses and enjoy the foods, without having to go too far. Good business model for the Amish though you have to put up with some long drives 3-4 days a week.

[@gladysgheesling6841]

Tazewell is pronounced with a short 'a' sound.

[@willwilson6994]

@Amish America - what happened to the Rose Hill (Lee County) Community that settled in 2008?

[@66dunoon69]

In our local/regional paper The Roanoke Times about 25 yeas ago there was an large article about the last Amish leaving Burkes Garden and them having a large auction, so when you mentioned the Amish in Burkes Garden I was surprised to hear that they came back.

[@AmishAmerica]

Yes I didn't mention it in the video but there was a previous settlement there that folded (present from 1990-1999). The current Amish would be a different group that started here in 2012

[@asdougherty3298]

There’s a community in RoseHill VA

[@dmbalsam]

Our Mennonites are moving to the Northern Neck because land is too expensive in Maryland, it is just across the river.

[@youngguns1319]

There’s a cool Amish store on rt29 going south out side of calpeper va it’s called the old Amish store cool place they got a good deli there too i drive all over va for my job I know all the small towns and pretty places va is a beautiful state I avoid northern va as much as possible i consisted northern va part of dc now because it’s like a different state as far as the people and culture goes

[@marinemom6045]

Erik, Are there any Amish stores that you can buy goods on line or by phone and they will ship by mail to you? I’m interested in some Amish meds, jellies etc. thank you. I love your videos and think I’ve watched them all. Debbie

[@Resqron7]

Have you ever visited the Amish community in Saint Joseph County, Michigan?

[@marylee7467]

Thanks so much for posting this. I hit play as soon as I saw it. I'm going to show my hubby and hoping we can go take a drive further south.. Now I'm in Northern Virginia but I'm always up for a drive. I've got friends on Fauquier County. They say it as FAWKyear. It's one of those where you could really mess that up 😊 interestingly that would have been the closest to me. So enjoyable, as all your videos are. I dont know your views but have you ever thought of joining the Amish? Silly question I suppose. Still, I can see the appeal sometimes. Take care.

[@AmishAmerica]

Yes - that one is a pronunciation minefield, thanks for the clarification:) Neat to hear that this is in your neighborhood and hope it comes in handy if you decide to do a trip. And not a silly question - back in 2004 as I was first meeting lots of Amish, especially in Indiana, the thought certainly occurred to me. But just for a short period and never too seriously. Still, when you are first getting to know the people beyond the surface it is easy to see the appeal at least of certain parts of Amish life. I find I still very much appreciate those things when I visit friends or just Amish in general.

[@sandymcmanigle1481]

@@AmishAmerica Went to school there, if you drop the y from her pronunciation, drop the capital K, then it would be FAWkeer, said all at once, blends very well.

[@codyleeser392]

I am in fauquier co

[@marylee7467]

@@sandymcmanigle1481 interesting. Everyone else by my cousins pronounced it the way I did it. It's funny when even the residents say it different. It's so nice there though. I'm in Fairfax County and it's getting way too populated. Trees are being taken out and it's a darn shame.

[@sandymcmanigle1481]

@@marylee7467 I grew up there, lived on a small farm near The Plains, and went to the new high school in Warrenton the first year they opened, so more than 50 years ago. It is interesting how the pronunciations are different. It is (was) a beautiful area growing up, much more rural. I ended up in Fairfax County also after school for several years. We've since retired in a less populated area about 60 miles north of there.

[@metalhedatmedotcom]

Every time you mention Virginia you fail to mention Dunkards. I'd like to hear about how they relate to Amish. We have many of those folks in our area.

[@terrychancellor4593]

Tazewell is not pronounced with a long A. It pronounced like hazemat, A as in "as" "and". My Dad's family is from there, all the way back to early 1700s.

[@boburwell9921]

It must have been yall at the training center. My deepest apologies and thanks

[@everyyearhistory6409]

Hey I have two questions that you maybe could answer based on your experience, on the Amish Population by State wiki page, it says that while there was big annual growth 2020-2021 overall, it also says the settlements around Geauga County had an almost 3% decrease in size, and Holmes County had "only" a 0.53% growth, while most others had a positive growth 3% in just a year. Is there a specific reason for this? Are some communities moving from Geauga or Ohio? Also another meta question I have, mathematically speaking, the Amish would become a majority of the US population in a few centuries, this obviously seems very unlikely, but why will it be unlikely in your opinion? Could it be because of lower retention rates in the future, assimilation into the english community and thus lower fertility rates, or simply because of lack of farmland and whatever economical turmoil the future may behold? I would love to hear your thoughts!

[@AmishAmerica]

I haven't dug too deep into those numbers you cite but generally the larger communities are more apt to show a slower growth rate since they are more often having people move away to start new settlements. Geauga Co. for example has sizeable daughter settlements in Munfordville, KY and Clymer, NY to name a couple. Likewise you're more apt to see a high % growth year-on-year in the smaller settlements just as a function of their smaller size meaning it's easier to achieve a big % jump if say a half-dozen families decide to move in to your dozen-family settlement. On your second question this probably deserves a video as you're not the first one interested in this topic (as am I :) ). I'm no demographer but I think projecting out anywhere near that far is difficult I guess for obvious reasons - so much can change over such a long span of time. And I think you name at least a couple of the issues - lower retention rates and more assimilation/lower family sizes (some Amish already due use forms of birth control, see the video I did on the Amish family). Farmland might be an issue but I think it might be a lesser factor b/c the Amish have proven pretty flexible in transitioning to other occupations requiring much less land (furniture making, construction, market stands, etc). Some Amish will always want to farm but there are several generations now which have shown that small enterprise is a viable pathway for Amish to make a living, while keeping about the same family sizes and retention rate (though farm families and plainer families might generally be a bit higher in both those categories). Hope that gives some food for thought, and good questions by the way, thanks for asking