Amish Country in Ohio
Ever wonder where the Amish do their shopping? One place on the top of that list has to be Lehman's Hardware Store in Kidron. Lehman's has all the non-electrical appliances and eco-friendly tools you can imagine. Started in 1955 as a family store, Lehman's Hardware and Appliance store is more than a store, it's a way of life.
What can be better than being in Amish Country in the fall? Ohio has the largest Amish/Mennonite settlement in the country. This region is composed of Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas, Coshocton, Knox, Ashland, Richland and Stark Counties. All combined, these areas offer a variety of good food, attractions and some of the most beautiful country in the state.
Our common view of the Amish as being a reflection on our own past that seems to allow us to go back in time when life was a little bit slower and we could take pride in our daily accomplishments.
The Amish found a way to survive in our technology filled world, without compromising their beliefs in their total obedience to their church and their separation from the rest of the world.
Much of the area we refer to as Amish Country is loaded with tourist attractions based on the Amish lifestyle. This has its pluses, but it also tends to give most people a false impression.
The horse and buggy is the most common image the tourist has of the Amish. It is true there are plenty of horse and buggies in Amish countryside, but their way of life far exceeds this notion of the simple life, no matter how much we want to stick them into that definition.
Whatever your opinions are concerning the Amish, they are probably no worse than anyone else's, even though they're probably wrong opinions. I think it is almost impossible for outsiders to truly understand what being Amish really means.
Still, those opinions should not stop us from appreciating their workmanship, the countryside that they farm, and their simple life styles. If that lifestyle has been commercialized to a great extent for gain, so be it.
Unless you're from Amish Country, you probably don't have a real good idea of exactly who the Amish people are, or what makes them different from the English as they call everyone that is not Amish.
There are about 40,000 Amish living in and around Ohio's traditional Amish Country which is principally Holmes and Wayne Counties, plus fringes of the counties surrounding them. And although this is a relatively confined area, one can not make sweeping generalizations about them.
First, not all Amish are the same, or have the same beliefs. In general in you can't generalize about them. They are all unique in their own ways.
There are 4 orders of Amish, with each order being almost completely different from the other. There are the Swartzentruber Amish, the Andy Weaver Amish, the Old Order Amish and the New Order Amish. Each have their own unique social template of what is acceptable and what is not. Even within each order, there are sub-orders of Amish.
Although the Amish will disagree with each other on certain issues, there are other issues where they are in complete agreement. Those areas are the keys to their religion: complete obedience to their church and keeping separating themselves from the world as much as possible.
Millersburg located in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country is Millersburg, where you'll find modern day America with old-fashioned country charm.
Berlin is another small town in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country with fascinating shops, old-fashioned down-home cooking..
Charm there's a lot of "Charm" in Charm, Ohio! A trip through Ohio's Amish Country wouldn't be complete without a stop in this small town. Be sure and check out the gigantic fabric store, even if you can't sew a straight line, you'll be amazed at all the bolts of cloth on display.
Amish Country Byway totaling more than 150 miles of country roads, the Amish Country Byway covers all the major Amish Country towns from Fredericksburg to Millersburg. It's a great way to experience the nature of Ohio's Amish Country.
Roscoe Village is a recreation of the bustling port on the Ohio & Erie Canal,Roscoe Village isn't Amish but mixes the charm and history of the 1800s with history, culture, fine dining and shopping.