Part of the Amana Colonies, this section of land is also referred to as Main Amana. Located on 26,000 acreas the Amana Colonies are made up of seven villages that were built and settled by German Pietists in 1855. For 80 years they maintained an almost completely self-sufficient local economy by importing very little from the industrializing US economy. The citizens of Amana have been able to maintain their independant lifestyle by continuing their handcrafted specialties and farming occupations learned from their German heritage.