The Amish, led by Jacob Amman, split from the Mennonites in the late 17^th century. The Amish were unhappy with some of the Mennonite beliefs and practices. They originally settled in Switzerland and in Germany. The Amish began leaving Europe in the 18^th century because of religious intolerance. They wanted to be free to worship as they pleased.

When they left Europe, they traveled to the United States. Their first settlement was in Pennsylvania. They soon settled in other states, Ohio in particular. Today, you will find Amish populations in more than 20 different states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Colorado, Maine, Arkansas, New York, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Washington, West Virginia and Nebraska. But, the three most heavily-populated are Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio. In fact, Ohio not only has the largest Amish population in the United States, it also has the largest Amish population in the world. Continue reading →