Yes, there are Amish communities in Colorado. While not as prominent as in some other states, you can find Amish settlements in areas such as the San Luis Valley and Sangre de Cristo. The estimated number of Amish people living in Colorado is around 900 individuals.
As of 2024, there are seven Amish communities in Colorado. Monte Vista in Rio Grande County is home to Colorado’s largest and oldest Amish community where there are around 400 individuals.
These communities maintain a traditional way of life, emphasizing agriculture and a close-knit community.
The Amish population in Colorado has been steadily growing since the first families arrived here in 1900.
Another significant migration wave began in 2002, with additional Amish settlers moving to a region south of Monte Vista, Colorado.
Colorado locals have made adjustments over the years, getting acquainted with the Amish community, and exercising caution around their buggies on the roads.
Why Did the Amish Choose Colorado as Their New Home?
Amish communities have historically been exploring opportunities for obtaining affordable farmland.
Many Amish migrations are a response to overcrowding and increasing land prices in their traditional communities.
The Amish population surged from 123,550 in 1991 to 249,500 in 2010 and reached 370,000 in 2022. By 2022, Amish communities were present in 32 states across the United States.
As the Amish population grows, the demand for additional farmland has intensified.
As a result, the Amish are moving to new places, including Colorado, in search of more farmland.
The majority of Amish migration to Colorado occurred between 2004 and 2009, although families continue to relocate to the area.
Farming remains crucial, yet the Amish in Colorado have demonstrated creativity to cope with the climate.
They leverage existing skills like furniture making, beekeeping, growing vegetables, breeding dogs, and exploring new sources of income such as running stores.
Amish women in Colorado can vegetables and fruits, hand-stitch quilts, weave, cook, bake, tend to gardens, and craft high-end sheepskin boots.
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