The Amish population in North America and right here in Central Pennsylvania is growing at an astonishing rate.
Experts call it a significant growth rate. We're talking about doubling the Amish population every 18-20 years. He listed several reasons why it's happening and what it means for the non-Amish in Lancaster County.
Dr. Donald Kraybill is an Amish expert, familiar with population trends.
He says Lancaster Amish, as well as in Pennsylvania and across the country, are doubling their population every 18-20 years.
In Lancaster county in 1990, there were 16,000 Amish. But two decades later? Roughly 32,000. Nationwide between 2011-2012 the Amish population grew by 12,000 to just under 274,000.
Dr. Kraybill says there are two reasons. First there are typically five or more children per family. Supporting that, a high retention rate, 90 % of Lancaster County Amish children grow up to join the church. "One Amish woman said to me, sometimes we joke among ourselves that if we keep growing this fast in the future soon half world will be Amish and other half English taxi drivers that provide us English transportation."
What the growing population means is more Amish owned and operated small businesses, already there are 2000 in Lancaster.
Those that stay in Lancaster are basically doing different types of agriculture, like produce farm, and intensive agriculture where they can support a family on several acres. Or they are moving into small businesses.
The communities who can appear to live in the past, are growing at a rate sure to protect their lifestyle well into the future.
Experts call it a significant growth rate. We're talking about doubling the Amish population every 18-20 years. He listed several reasons why it's happening and what it means for the non-Amish in Lancaster County.
Dr. Donald Kraybill is an Amish expert, familiar with population trends.
He says Lancaster Amish, as well as in Pennsylvania and across the country, are doubling their population every 18-20 years.
In Lancaster county in 1990, there were 16,000 Amish. But two decades later? Roughly 32,000. Nationwide between 2011-2012 the Amish population grew by 12,000 to just under 274,000.
Dr. Kraybill says there are two reasons. First there are typically five or more children per family. Supporting that, a high retention rate, 90 % of Lancaster County Amish children grow up to join the church. "One Amish woman said to me, sometimes we joke among ourselves that if we keep growing this fast in the future soon half world will be Amish and other half English taxi drivers that provide us English transportation."
What the growing population means is more Amish owned and operated small businesses, already there are 2000 in Lancaster.
Those that stay in Lancaster are basically doing different types of agriculture, like produce farm, and intensive agriculture where they can support a family on several acres. Or they are moving into small businesses.
The communities who can appear to live in the past, are growing at a rate sure to protect their lifestyle well into the future.