Why the Swartzentruber Amish reject modern technology and even standard road safety signs

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Swartzentruber Amish are the most restrictive of all Amish groups, rejecting electricity, indoor plumbing, and even standard orange safety triangles on their buggies. Their intense focus on avoiding worldly vanity has fueled a massive population surge, with their church districts growing by 171 percent between 1991 and 2010.

Originating from a 20th-century schism in Holmes County, Ohio, the Swartzentruber Amish define themselves through strict adherence to the Ordnung—a set of rules governing daily life. Their separation from other Old Order Amish is rooted in disputes over church discipline and the practice of shunning, or Bann und Meidung. Today, the group is so insular that no Swartzentruber faction fellowships with any other, including fellow Swartzentruber groups. This commitment to isolation extends to technology; they prohibit car ownership, bicycles, and even standard reflective safety triangles, preferring grey tape to avoid appearing worldly.

The group’s aesthetic is intentionally plain to discourage vanity. Homes lack upholstered furniture, linoleum, and indoor plumbing, while clothing is handmade and devoid of modern fasteners like zippers or Velcro. Men grow beards from the moment they appear, rather than waiting for marriage, and women wear dark, conservative colors. Even their farms reflect this philosophy; yards are often left unkempt to signal a lack of interest in outward appearance, and roads remain unpaved to avoid the perceived pride of modern infrastructure.

Despite their restrictive lifestyle, the Swartzentruber are experiencing rapid growth. With retention rates near 90 percent and families often exceeding fifteen children, they have expanded from a few districts in the mid-20th century to 119 church districts across 13 states and Ontario by 2011. This growth is supported by a home-centered economy, where families operate small businesses like sawmills or quilt-making in outbuildings, allowing parents to maintain strict supervision over their children's interactions with the outside world.

The group’s refusal to conform to modern regulations has occasionally led to legal friction. In 2011, nine men in Kentucky were jailed for refusing to display the state-mandated orange triangle on their buggies. However, they have also seen legal victories; in 2003, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that their use of grey reflective tape was a legally acceptable substitute for the bright triangles, validating their unique approach to balancing religious conviction with public safety requirements.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Why the Amish reject modern technology is not about the machines themselves
• Why the Amish lifestyle creates a distinct biological signature
• Mennonites are not a monolith: from horse-drawn buggies to modern urban professionals.
• Is true freedom found within the boundaries of a strict social code?
• The true meaning of Rumspringa is far from a wild teenage rebellion
• The killer clown whose head burns with a permanent, cursed flame
• How Maine's longest-serving senator became a pivotal, often unpredictable, force in Washington politics
• Forget epic battles for the fate of the world; focus on the personal.
• The night wrestling swapped its signature match for a steel cage
• Before Brown v. Board of Education, one California family challenged school segregation in court.
• The Supreme Court was not always nine justices, nor did it always have a home.
• How the invisible architect of the modern digital world became a $35 billion giant.

More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics