HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Seeing a horse and buggy driving along the side of the road or parked at Walmart is a regular occurrence in Christian County. The Amish and Mennonite populations enrich the area and provide unique services that benefits the city.
“They are a very well organized, compassionate community,” said Carter Hendricks, former Hopkinsville mayor and current executive director of the Southwestern Kentucky Economic Development Council. Hendricks also mentioned their community’s compassion, especially when Christian County was in crisis following the tornadoes in 2021. They stepped up to the plate to help rebuild by repairing homes and clearing debris wherever they were needed.
The Hopkinsville area has the second largest Amish population in the state of Kentucky, and Kentucky has the eighth largest population in the country, according to stats from Amish America’s website. There are two Amish settlements in Christian County: one near Crofton that was founded in 1972, and a larger settlement in the Hopkinsville/Pembroke area that was founded in 1989.
The county’s rich farmland has been drawing these communities away from their concentrations in Pennsylvania for years. The population has doubled in size here in the last 10 years, with over 2,000 residents between Christian and Trigg County.
Economic impact
“The Amish population here in Christian County, Kentucky certainly benefits the culture, economy, and tourism industry in a positive manner,” said Ryan Clark with Hopkinsville Tourism. “Residents and visitors in Christian County benefit from the dozens of Amish-owned businesses in the area and the jobs, products and shopping options they provide.”
While their homes and communities are extremely private, Amish- and Mennonite-owned businesses continue to grow.
The Visit Hopkinsville website lists every Mennonite- and Amish-owned business in Christian County and surrounding areas. Currently, there are 96 businesses listed. Barn building, baking, woodworking, curtain making, leatherworks, clock repair, grocers, roofing and gardening are among the wide range of services offered.
“There are thousands of visitors to Christian County and western Kentucky every year who come to shop at Amish businesses, eat and buy locally grown and freshly made foods, and to experience Amish culture here in the Christian County area,” said Clark.
These businesses can be found all over Hopkinsville, Pembroke, Oak Grove, Elkton and Cadiz. While they can be contacted directly for services, make sure to look out for them at farmers markets and vendor fairs.