Elkhart-LaGrange Amish affiliation facts for kids
The Elkhart-LaGrange Amish affiliation is a large group of Amish people. It's the second biggest group of Old Order Amish. This community started and mostly lives in Elkhart and LaGrange Counties in Indiana.
Even though some other Amish groups have split into smaller parts over the last 100 years, the Elkhart-LaGrange group has stayed together. However, different parts of this group have their own ways of doing things. In 2011, this group had 177 "church districts," which are like local church communities.
A Look Back in Time
The Elkhart-LaGrange Amish community began in 1841. This is when the first Amish families settled in the area, starting what would become this large group.
How They Live and What They Believe
The Elkhart-LaGrange Amish group is known for being a bit more open to using modern technology compared to some other Amish groups.
The rules for how they live are called the Ordnung. These rules can be different from one church district to another, even if they are close by. This means that what is allowed in one Amish community might not be allowed in a neighboring one.
Here's a look at how technology use can vary:
| Affiliation | Tractor for fieldwork | Roto- tiller | Power lawn mower | Propane gas | Bulk milk tank | Mechanical milker | Mechanical refrigerator | Pickup balers | Inside flush toilet | Running water bath tub | Tractor for belt power | Pneumatic tools | Chain saw | Pressurized lamps | Motorized washing machines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of use by all Amish |
6 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 75 | 90 | 97 |
| Swartzentruber | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Some | No | No | Yes |
| Swiss (Adams) | No | No | Some | No | No | No | No | No | Some | No | No | Some | Some | Some | Some |
| Buchanan/Medford | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Some | No | Yes | Yes |
| Danner | No | No | No | Some | No | No | Some | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Geauga I | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Holmes Old Order | No | Some | Some | No* | No | No | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Elkhart-LaGrange | No | Some | Some | Some | Some | Some | Some | Some | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lancaster | No | No | Some | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nappanee, Indiana | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kalona | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* Natural gas allowed
Where They Live
In 2011, the Elkhart-LaGrange Amish group lived in 9 different settlements across 3 states. They had 177 church districts, making them the second largest Amish group.
This group makes up about 7 percent of all Old Order Amish people. In 2015, there were about 20,000 people in this group out of a total of about 300,000 Old Order Amish. This group is also known for being very close together geographically, meaning their communities are not spread out very far.
