5 things you (probably) didn't know about the Amish

They're some of the most iconic residents of Central Pennsylvania, but how much do you actually know about the Amish?

Or maybe a better question: What do you know about the Amish that just isn't so? Here are a few facts from the Amish Studies group, based out of Elizabethtown College, that might surprise you.

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1. They pay (some) taxes. There's a common misconception that the Amish are exempt from all taxes, said Dr. Steven Nolt, professor of History and Anabaptist and Pietist studies at Elizabethtown College. That's only partially true. While they have been granted an exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes (because they provide for their elderly in their own community and taking government aid is against their religious convictions), they pay virtually all other taxes. In some cases, they may be exempt from workers compensation taxes, too.

2. They don't have mainstream views of animals. Although some Amish families have pets, generally animals are implements of work in Amish culture. Some mainstream ideas -- like choosing to be vegetarian for ethical reasons or spending extravagantly for pet care -- are foreign to their culture, Nolt said.

3. They're growing, and you can join. Any notion that the culture is dying out isn't accurate, Nolt said. The Amish typically have large families, and most choose to stay in the faith. In the Lancaster County area, the average Amish family has about six children and upwards of 80 percent of them stay in the faith, Nolt said. They're also open to converts who fully embrace their beliefs, although Nolt notes the number of converts is relatively small.

4. Not everyone who looks Amish is. Central Pennsylvania is home to a diverse set of "plain people," including Amish and Mennonite sects that largely do without modern technology. While to outsiders the differences between these groups are often subtle, there's few formal ties between the groups.

5. They're not perfect. While the Amish culture has deep religious convictions, they -- like all cultures -- have problems. There are documented cases of incest and sexual abuse, according to the Amish Studies website. "Sometimes rebellious youth act out and abuse alcohol or use drugs. Some marriages turn sour," says the website. And because of a "restricted gene pool," there are some health issues in the community (although, diseases absent from the gene pool appear less frequently).