In Amish society, a greater emphasis is placed on community, and there's less focus on individuality. But Amish folks entertain many of the same life goals and aspirations as their Lancaster neighbors.

Like many areas in the county, Amish history in Manheim Township continues to unfold.

Elizabethtown College professor Steve Nolt will highlight the cultural differences and similarities between the Amish and the English during his upcoming presentation.

"In the United States, there has been this pervasive myth of assimilation," said Nolt, who's been the director of Elizabethtown College's Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies for five years. "There are groups that have remained distinctive. With the Amish, there's a curiosity, like 'Why?' The American ideology thinks that shouldn't be so. The Amish also draw some lines, draw some boundaries with their use of technology. I think that's something else people find curious."

As part of the Manheim Township Historical Society's ongoing educational initiative, Nolt will speak on the history and current cultures of Amish communities in Manheim Township at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the historic Stoner House, 601 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster. The event is free to attend, no registration is required, and light refreshments will be provided.

"Some of the misconceptions that people have about the Amish are they don't change, or the Amish are all the same, or that the Amish are all farmers or that the Amish don't pay taxes, all of which is not the case," said Nolt. "Amish people don't accept Social Security benefits. They rely on their church to take care of the elderly. People here in Lancaster County who have Amish neighbors may have some of these misconceptions."

Nolt's informative, engaging and educational talk will last about 45 minutes. It will be followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period.

"I'm assuming they're people who are interested in history and local history. They may be connected to the Manheim Township Historical Society," said Nolt of his audience. "I would hope people would come with a sense of curiosity, whether they know their Amish neighbors well or not. I think there will be a lot of local expertise in the room. For audiences like this, I'll have notes, but I don't read text. I usually have illustrations and photos with the talk. I think that's useful to connect with people."

"(The Amish are) a historical group, so I'll talk about their early history in Manheim Township," continued Nolt. "I just want to inform people about the Amish history in Lancaster County. I also want to try to help with the understanding of who our Amish neighbors are today. Only about one out of three of our Amish neighbors are in farming today."

According to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Lancaster County is home to the largest concentration of Amish people in America. The Lancaster County Amish settlement, which includes portions of western Chester County, includes 44,765 residents.

A total of 404,575 Amish people reside in the United States.

The history of the Amish in Manheim Township can be traced to the 1730s.

"Some of the earliest Amish in Lancaster County lived in Manheim Township," said Nolt, a Lancaster city resident. "There were several Amish households located in what is now Manheim Township in the 1730s. Before and after the American Revolution, there was some movement. Later, you have growth and expansion of the Amish population. Over time, as the Amish community expanded, they moved back into Manheim Township."

Nolt has been performing Amish-related research for more than 30 years, some of which came during his time living in the Midwest. That experience has provided him with a heightened sense of perspective.

"Because the Amish have been here so long, they're very much a part of Lancaster history, and I think I see examples of their integration into the community," said Nolt. "There have certainly been times of tension between the Amish people and their neighbors. But, for the most part over the last 75 years, the history has been fairly positive."