the Amish are holding there own. they tend to have large families, and age 16 or so, they give their children some freedom, to live in town, use electricty, drive cars.. basicaly your normal american teen age lifestyle. after a time (flexible) they are expected to make a choice.. stay amish, or join the outside world.. not excommunicated, because they have never joined as adults. they still can come back and visit family, but they are not members..

about 85% elect to stay.

Lancaster County, PA was the biggest consentrations.. (and some of the best farm land in the world--naturally, but 150 years of tender care by the Amish has only made it better)

but many now have moved to Indiana, Iowa and Ohio... they just ran out of space. and since they have become a tourist draw to the county, the county has lost more and more farm land to hotels, 7-11's, paved roads, gift shops, etc.

there was a good special on PBS not long ago, (and if they mentions the actual numbers.. well that i forgot!) but it was good to hear the sect is thriving. i don't aspire to their life, but its nice to know they can sustain it.


my other obsession