Amish Settlers Find Oasis in New Mexico’s Desert Heart
In a land often associated with arid landscapes and rugged terrains, a surprising and heartwarming phenomenon is unfolding: the Amish community has found its way to the enchanting state of New Mexico. The latest census from the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College reveals that this steadfast community is experiencing growth even in the seemingly unlikely desert environment.
With the release of the most recent statistics, it’s clear that the Amish population continues to thrive, surpassing 373,620 souls, marking an increase of over 12,000 in just a year. This rate of growth suggests that the Amish community could breach the 400,000 mark as early as 2024 or 2025, underscoring the resilience and appeal of their way of life.
But the most captivating revelation from this data is the emergence of New Mexico as the 32nd state to welcome an Amish population. A tidbit of information that garnered excitement and curiosity, the news was initially shared during an Amish conference at Elizabethtown College. However, there are fascinating nuances to this new settlement that beg exploration.
The genesis of the New Mexico community dates back to 2020, when the first family or families made their way to this unique southwestern landscape. However, their numbers were not substantial enough to constitute a settlement, as defined by the Amish historian David Luthy. A “settlement size” generally comprises three families, or two families if one is a minister. It wasn’t until the subsequent years, 2021 and 2022, that more families joined the pioneers, solidifying the foundation of this vibrant community.
The plot thickens when we delve into the precise location of this novel settlement. While records from the Central Plains Amish Directory 2021 repeatedly mention Ortiz, NM as the settlement’s location, intriguingly, there is no Ortiz, NM. Instead, there’s an Ortiz, CO, a community just across the state border in Conejos County. It seems the Amish community straddles the New Mexico-Colorado border, with its heart predominantly residing in New Mexico, adopting the Ortiz, CO designation as a means to identify their enclave. This amalgamation of geographic references encapsulates the spirit of the community’s cross-border existence.
Edsel Burdge of the Young Center provides insight into the relationship between the New Mexico settlers and their counterparts in Westcliffe, CO, which underscores the Amish’s sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. This connection, along with families relocating from various states such as Michigan, Indiana, and Kansas, has facilitated the growth of a small but tight-knit community. With around a half-dozen households and an estimated 30 inhabitants, the future looks promising for this oasis in the desert.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the Amish have ventured into the Land of Enchantment. A fleeting yet impactful presence was documented from 1921 to 1929, in Colfax County near Chico. Eleven Amish families made the journey from Kansas, cultivating crops and crafting adobe blocks for sale. While drought eventually prompted most to return to their roots, one resolute family persevered in this unfamiliar terrain until 1929.
As the Amish community embraces the New Mexico sunsets and the rugged landscapes that characterize their newfound home, a story of resilience, adaptation, and unity takes shape. Against the backdrop of the southwestern desert, a chapter in the Amish story unfolds, revealing the human spirit’s boundless capacity to thrive and flourish, even in the most unlikely of places.
