Often presented as a stubbornly timeless people, the Amish are in fact a remarkably dynamic group. Doubling in population about every twenty years, they now number nearly 375,000 and live in 34 states. This illustrated lecture will introduce the Amish in broad strokes and in terms of several specific recent developments, including their geographic expansion and economic diversification. A century ago, nearly all Amish were dairy farmers and lived in a small band stretching from Pennsylvania to Iowa. Today, Amish people are engaged in an array of occupations from furniture crafting and industrial metal fabrication to organic produce production and a wide range of retail establishments, an economic picture that mirrors the greater range of locations in which they are making their homes. The presentation will conclude with observations on the possibilities for both neighborly cooperation and community tension as more Amish move to new places among neighbors who have not previously interacted with Plain people.
Steven Nolt is a professor of history and Anabaptist studies and director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College. He is the author or coauthor of fourteen books on Amish, Mennonite, and Pennsylvania German history and contemporary life.
This event is free and all are welcome to attend.
This series is possible thanks to the support of Florida Humanities, Mellon Foundation, DutchCrafters Amish Furniture, and the Carlisle Inn.
Event Location
Carlisle Inn
3727 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL 34232
More Events in this Series
Life in Pinecraft: A Conversation with Katie Troyer | February 7th, 2023
Photography Exhibit: Life in Pinecraft Through the Eyes of Katie Troyer | Carlisle Inn, February 7th- 23rd
Pinecraft: The History and Life of Sarasota’s Amish Community, with JB Miller | February 16th, 2023
Photo above by Katie Troyer