Amish

The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Swiss Mennonite leader Jakob Ammon. He formed his own branch of the church after taking issue with other Swiss Mennonite leaders over discipline issues and those who followed Ammann became known as Amish.

Amish Mennonites began migrating to Pennsylvania from Europe in the 18th century as a reaction to religious wars, poverty, and religious persecution. The first Amish immigrants went to Berks County, Pennsylvania, but later moved, because of land issues and security concerns tied to the French and Indian War. Many eventually settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Their members still practice an exclusively rural and simple way of life in various parts of the USA and Canada. Old Order Amish are the strictest. They dress in a severely plain style, using hooks and eyes instead of buttons. They ride in horse-drawn buggies instead of automobiles, and the adult males are bearded. Religious services are held in homes; foot washing is practiced in connection with the communion service; discipline is enforced by shunning; and marriage with outsiders is condemned.

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The total Amish population in United States as of June 2020 stood at 344,670 up 8,435 or 2.5%, compared to the previous year.

The Amish have such a high birth rate (average of 7 children per family) they are among the fastest-growing populations in the world.

The Amish population doubles every 21 years.

Studies have shown that Amish communities generally have lower rates of certain types of cancer compared to the general population. This is often attributed to several factors related to their lifestyle and dietary habits.

On October 2, 2006, gunman Charles Carl Roberts IV shot eight girls (aged 6–13), killing five at the West Nickel Mines School, an Amish one-room schoolhouse in the Old Order Amish community of Nickel Mines. Roberts then committed suicide. The Amish went to the shooter's family to offer them support. They also set up a charitable fund for his family and during Roberts' funeral they surrounded the family to provide them privacy from the media.

The Amish celebrate Christmas twice. Once on December 25th, and once one January 6th for "Old Christmas."

Amish people end formal education at the 8th grade. This is mainly because they value apprenticeship and hands-on learning, and that more advanced learning can foster anti-Christian beliefs and counter their values.

Amish businesses have a 95% success rate at staying open at least five years. 

Old Order Amish men don’t wear wedding rings. Instead they grow their beards out.

Amish men don't wear mustaches as a protest against violence. In the early days of the Amish mustaches were prevalent in the German military and they began shaving their mustaches as a physical representation of their non-violent nature. The Amish who did serve did so in the Civilian Service Corps.

Amish men take about 18,425 steps per day. Amish women take about 14,196. The average American adult takes about 4,000 steps per day.

Only 40% of Amish people use refrigerators but 97% of them use washing machines.

Some Amish communities willingly participate in studies of genetic diseases, as they have unique genetics due to the enclosed nature of their order. Their extensive family histories are useful to researchers investigating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and macular degeneration.