Amish Population Pyramids: Demographic Patterns across Affiliations in the Holmes County, Ohio, Settlement

Authors

  • Corey J. Colyer West Virginia University
  • Rachel E. Stein West Virginia University
  • Katie E. Corcoran West Virginia University
  • Annette Mackay West Virginia University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18061/jpac.v3i1.9148

Keywords:

Amish, demography, population studies, sociology of religion, gender

Abstract

Research indicates demographic trends within the Amish community remain stable over time, even as Amish populations proliferate. However, most of the research on demographic trends fails to examine variation across affiliations. We use data from Ohio Amish Directory, Holmes County and Vicinity, 2010 to construct age-sex population pyramids for three different affiliations. Population pyramids render the growth, decline, and stability of populations visible. Andy Weaver (or Dan) and Old Order churches present expanding pyramids implying rapid growth, while New Order churches render a stationary pyramid indicating slower growth. Sociologists of religion consistently find that strict churches, cultivating separation from the outside world, tend to grow faster than those that foster accommodation with the outside world. We argue that the data presented in this article suggests a similar dynamic at work in Plain Anabaptist communities.

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Published

2022-11-29

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Section

Articles