Shipshewana Amish Settlement
Introduction
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The Amish settlement in Shipshewana, IN is the third largest in the country and the largest in the state of Indiana. Amish Settlements in Indiana are quite unusual in the way of historical sites because they are a piece of living history. Because the Amish adopt new technologies more conservatively than many other Americans, the residents of this community live in the same fashion that they did a hundred or more years ago. People who come to visit and learn more about the Amish living here are always welcome, however, they should take into account the relatively slow pace that Amish society exists within and not try to rush their visit.
Backstory and Context
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Records place the first settlers in Shipshewana around 1831 (before the land was on the market) and the Amish arrival around 1844. These early settlers to Indiana from Somerset Country, Pennsylvania have developed their community in close proximity to the town of Shipshewana. The primary industry of Shipshewana all the way through the 20th century was its mills, and the Amish community was a thriving part of that railway economy (although they sold through the middlemen of the town) for much of the town's history.
Today, Shipshewana exists primarily as a home for the third-largest Amish conglomerate in the nation and a tourist destination for those visiting Indiana. The town adds nearly $176.6 million to the economy as of 2017 estimates, with more than two thirds of that revenue coming through the spending of tourists. The town itself is growing, adding almost 2,000 jobs each year to keep up with the expanding tourist industry.
Shipshwana and other communities like it may be the next wave of Amish pioneers, this time into a new industry, an interesting development for a people who are so reluctant to change and become a part of "the world".
Sources
Ford, Ira. History of Northeast Indiana: Lagrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb Counties. Volume 2. Chicago, Illinois. Lewis Publishing Company, 1920.
About Shipshewana Lagrange County Convention Center and Visitor's Bereau, Visit Shipshwana. Accessed May 4th 2020. https://visitshipshewana.org/about/.