Amana Colonies are seven neighboring villages in east-central Iowa that formed a communal society from the mid-1800’s until the early 1900’s. They consist of Amana, West Amana, High Amana, Middle Amana, East Amana, South Amana, and Homestead.
The Amana community was one of the longest-lasting communal societies in the world. The members jointly owned property, and they shared the same religious beliefs. They voted to end their communal way of life in 1932. They reorganized as a corporation, with community members as stockholders.
The Amanas today.
Today, most, but not all, residents of the Amana Colonies are stockholders. Most property and businesses are privately owned. The major industry is farming. The community also produces bakery products, freezers, furniture, microwave ovens, refrigerators, smoked meats, wine, and woolen goods.
The Amana Colonies are a popular tourist destination because of their historical interest, their hearty cooking, and their production of handcrafted goods. Visitors may tour preserved buildings of the 1800’s, including a church, a communal kitchen, and a shop where barrels were made. They may watch craftworkers build furniture, make yarn, and weave fabrics.
History.
The founders of the Amana Colonies came to the United States from Germany in 1842, seeking religious freedom. They were members of a religious group called the Community of True Inspiration, which had been formed in 1714 by people who broke away from the German Lutheran Church. The “Inspirationists” first settled near Buffalo, New York. In 1855, they purchased land along the Iowa River and formed a village there that they called Amana. The word is a Biblical name that means remain faithful. The settlers–numbering about 800–established five more villages. They also purchased the neighboring village of Homestead, which had a railroad terminal.
The community owned all property, and families were assigned living quarters. Each adult worked at assigned tasks. The people worshiped together and ate together. They shared the community’s goods and profits.
The Amana Colonies prospered at first but began to decline in the late 1800’s. The Great Depression, a worldwide business slump that began in 1929, caused severe financial problems for the community. In 1932, the members reorganized. They formed a corporation, the Amana Society, Inc., to deal with production and marketing of goods. They established the Amana Church Society to direct their religious life.
