Hutterite Colonies in South Dakota Maintain Communal Lifestyle and Historical Roots

Hutterites, a branch of the Anabaptist movement, have established a significant presence in South Dakota, with over 60 colonies and more than 7,000 members. The state hosts the largest Hutterite population in the United States, according to a report by News Watch. Wolf Creek Colony, the second-oldest in the state, located 10 miles west of Freeman, offers a glimpse into the communal lifestyle that defines Hutterite communities.

The Hutterian Brethren, commonly known as Hutterites, migrated to North America in the 1870s from central and eastern Europe to escape religious persecution. In South Dakota, they formed three distinct groups: the Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut, and Leherleut, each establishing colonies in 1874, 1875, and 1877 respectively. These colonies continue to uphold the communal way of life that characterized their early settlement.

Marnette Hofer, executive director and archivist at Heritage Hall Museum and Archives in Freeman, explained that of the approximately 1,200 Hutterites who arrived in North America, one-third chose to live communally. The remaining two-thirds became Prairieleuts, opting for individual homesteads and private family farms. Despite the passage of centuries, those living in colonies still maintain a communal structure where all resources are shared.

Norman Hofer, a retired farmer and Hutterite expert in Freeman, described the communal lifestyle as one where members do not own private property. Instead, the colony collectively owns everything, eliminating financial burdens such as insurance. “You are provided for your entire life because you don’t own anything and are taken care of from the time you are born to the day you die,” Norman Hofer said.

Colonies can grow to include up to 150 adults and children. When a colony becomes too large, it splits into a daughter colony. Rod Janzen, a professor at Fresno Pacific University who has studied Hutterites, noted that they are distinct from the Amish, with Hutterites having more German ancestry and the Amish more Swiss ancestry.

The Hutterite way of life reflects a commitment to shared responsibility and mutual care, echoing the biblical principle of caring for one another as outlined in Micah 6:8. Their communal structure emphasizes cooperation and support, aligning with the values of neighbor-love and justice.

Source: Read the original report