Oneida Community

The Oneida Community was a 19th-century religious utopian group founded in 1848 in New York. They believed in communal living, shared property, and practiced complex marriage—meaning members were simultaneously married to multiple partners. Their beliefs combined Christian ideas with social experimentation, emphasizing cooperation and equality. The community aimed to create a perfect society free from traditional family and social norms. It eventually disbanded in 1881, transitioning into a successful silverware manufacturing business known today as Oneida Ltd. The community is notable for its innovative social ideas and unique approach to communal living and marriage.