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Woodruff County – Ancestry

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Ancestry refers to the lineage or descent of a person, family, or group, tracing back through generations to identify their origins, heritage, and familial connections. It encompasses the genetic, cultural, and historical ties that link individuals to their forebears, shaping their identity and sense of belonging. Ancestry is a multifaceted concept, intertwining biology, genealogy, history, and culture, and it plays a significant role in how people understand themselves and their place in the world.

At its core, ancestry is rooted in genetics. Each individual inherits a unique combination of DNA from their parents, who in turn inherited their DNA from their own ancestors. This genetic material carries information about physical traits, predispositions to certain health conditions, and even behavioral tendencies. Advances in genetic testing, such as DNA analysis, have made it possible for individuals to trace their biological ancestry with remarkable precision. Companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA offer services that analyze genetic markers to provide insights into a person's ethnic composition and geographic origins, often revealing surprising connections to distant relatives or previously unknown heritage.

Beyond genetics, ancestry is deeply tied to genealogy, the study of family history and lineage. Genealogical research involves constructing family trees, documenting relationships, and uncovering historical records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, census data, and immigration documents. This process often reveals stories of migration, resilience, and adaptation, offering a window into the lives of ancestors and the challenges they faced. For many, genealogy is a way to honor their forebears and preserve their legacy for future generations.

Cultural ancestry is another critical dimension, encompassing the traditions, languages, customs, and values passed down through generations. It connects individuals to their ethnic or national heritage, shaping their cultural identity and worldview. For example, someone with Irish ancestry might celebrate St. Patrick's Day, learn traditional Irish dance, or explore the Gaelic language, while someone with Japanese ancestry might practice tea ceremonies, study calligraphy, or observe Obon festivals. Cultural ancestry fosters a sense of continuity and belonging, linking individuals to a broader community with shared experiences and values.

Historical ancestry delves into the broader context of a family's or group's past, including significant events, social conditions, and historical movements that shaped their lives. For instance, the transatlantic slave trade, the Irish Potato Famine, or the Jewish diaspora have profoundly influenced the ancestry of millions of people, leaving lasting imprints on their descendants' identities. Understanding historical ancestry often involves grappling with complex narratives of triumph and tragedy, resilience and oppression, and the interplay of individual and collective experiences.

Ancestry also has a deeply personal and emotional dimension. For many, exploring their ancestry is a journey of self-discovery, offering insights into who they are and where they come from. It can foster a sense of pride, connection, and continuity, as well as a deeper appreciation for the struggles and achievements of those who came before. At the same time, it can raise questions about identity, belonging, and the complexities of heritage, particularly for individuals with mixed or multicultural backgrounds.

In a globalized world, ancestry serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting individuals to their roots while also highlighting the interconnectedness of human history. It underscores the diversity and richness of human experience, reminding us that every person's story is part of a larger tapestry woven over centuries. Whether through genetic testing, genealogical research, cultural practices, or historical exploration, ancestry offers a profound way to understand ourselves and our place in the world.

A diversification score measures the diversity of ancestries in the county. As the value appoaches 100, ancestry diversity decreases and therefore increasing the risk of a lack of cultural diversity. The ancestry diversification score for this county is:

20.91

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

African American

 
Ancestry Report Part I
DescriptionTotal Population American Native American Hawaiian Caribbean (Latino) Mexican Central American South American Other Hispanic African American Sub- Saharan Caribbean (Black)

Woodruff County5,89655770453006942352333
Arkansas (in 000's)3,109238231714194446132987964
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
White County79,6478,533308222293,0232321131092,443530561
St. Francis County22,058777690492509123277,9891,9821,919
Cross County16,2502,4444151330941242,112619586
Jackson County16,6012,78452531337841221,638520493
Prairie County7,97272219201150040537168169
Monroe County6,454407287107750081,494613515
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Woodruff County20.919.450.120.000.070.900.000.000.1015.985.975.65
Arkansas12.567.660.730.550.456.241.410.190.419.592.552.07
National7.834.050.640.183.3011.331.801.351.077.542.292.09
White County20.4210.710.390.030.293.800.290.140.143.070.670.70
St. Francis County20.083.520.310.000.221.130.410.011.4836.228.998.70
Cross County15.0715.040.250.030.081.900.020.010.1513.003.813.61
Jackson County15.3316.770.310.030.192.030.510.010.139.873.132.97
Prairie County16.959.060.240.030.001.440.000.000.506.742.112.12
Monroe County15.086.310.430.111.661.160.000.000.1223.159.507.98
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Woodruff County 123.2616.160.0015.2414.420.000.0024.90166.54234.40273.00
Arkansas 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 52.8087.7633.17741.37181.65127.96700.38262.8078.6389.81101.03
White County 139.7852.635.0264.5960.8720.7073.4433.4831.9726.1334.05
St. Francis County 45.9642.570.0049.9118.1829.324.69362.72377.53352.79420.52
Cross County 196.2334.345.5917.9730.501.753.1936.14135.48149.56174.31
Jackson County 218.8142.635.4741.9532.5635.963.1232.42102.85122.98143.55
Prairie County 118.1732.444.560.0023.130.000.00122.7770.2282.74102.47
Monroe County 82.2859.0519.71372.4618.640.000.0030.33241.30372.92385.71
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Woodruff County 233.4518.410.002.067.940.000.009.47211.80260.99270.22
Arkansas 189.40113.95301.4813.4955.0578.1514.2838.05127.17111.3498.98
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
White County 264.7559.9715.148.7133.5116.1810.4912.7440.6629.0933.70
St. Francis County 87.0548.510.006.7310.0122.910.67138.02480.12392.80416.24
Cross County 371.6639.1316.862.4216.791.370.4513.75172.29166.52172.54
Jackson County 414.4248.5816.505.6617.9228.100.4512.34130.80136.93142.09
Prairie County 223.8136.9613.750.0012.740.000.0046.7289.3092.12101.43
Monroe County 155.8467.2859.4450.2410.260.000.0011.54306.86415.21381.78
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Woodruff County5,89601851111113580215017
Arkansas (in 000's)3,10942241525167261324209644
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
White County79,647816,8344855144,0695002733686,0841351,167
St. Francis County22,05848504173931840325497055
Cross County16,25001,04766735704210768192239
Jackson County16,60101,08987746164821371,19415139
Prairie County7,97204661233957335427692087
Monroe County6,45421137524217539222018
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Woodruff County20.910.003.140.020.191.880.590.140.003.650.000.29
Arkansas12.560.147.200.470.815.380.820.410.776.720.191.42
National7.830.395.260.531.067.202.631.361.746.010.332.79
White County20.420.108.580.610.655.110.630.340.467.640.171.47
St. Francis County20.080.222.280.080.181.440.180.010.112.250.000.25
Cross County15.070.006.440.410.453.510.260.060.475.040.011.47
Jackson County15.330.006.560.520.453.710.290.130.227.190.090.84
Prairie County16.950.005.851.540.497.190.440.050.348.680.001.09
Monroe County15.080.332.120.080.373.360.080.050.143.440.000.28
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Woodruff County 0.0043.583.6123.0934.9872.2033.290.0054.290.0020.27
Arkansas 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 285.4073.11113.37131.31133.76319.86333.55226.0689.46177.00195.83
White County 73.79119.17129.6379.8794.9376.3584.0960.07113.7390.31102.99
St. Francis County 157.8931.7316.4121.8826.7922.053.3414.7333.550.0017.53
Cross County 0.0089.4886.4655.6065.1831.4315.1060.8075.046.56103.38
Jackson County 0.0091.11111.5655.1768.9535.1731.0328.98107.0848.1458.85
Prairie County 0.0081.18328.4560.55133.5653.4012.3144.03129.240.0076.71
Monroe County 236.0929.4816.4946.0262.489.4211.4018.1351.210.0019.60
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Woodruff County 0.0059.613.1817.5826.1522.579.980.0060.690.0010.35
Arkansas 35.04136.7888.2176.1674.7631.2629.9844.24111.7856.5051.06
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
White County 25.85163.00114.3460.8370.9723.8725.2126.57127.1351.0252.59
St. Francis County 55.3243.4114.4716.6620.036.901.006.5237.500.008.95
Cross County 0.00122.4076.2742.3448.739.834.5326.9083.883.7152.79
Jackson County 0.00124.6298.4142.0151.5510.999.3012.82119.7027.2030.05
Prairie County 0.00111.05289.7246.1199.8516.693.6919.48144.460.0039.17
Monroe County 82.7240.3214.5535.0546.712.953.428.0257.250.0010.01
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Woodruff County5,89600000001107842,264
Arkansas (in 000's)3,1096613617874512793
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
White County79,6471611627183629672432911,09331,315
St. Francis County22,058206604347103,9872,992
Cross County16,2506000000491742,3634,556
Jackson County16,6010011002322102,6744,583
Prairie County7,9720000001901,7172,427
Monroe County6,45431500800121,2661,226
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Woodruff County20.910.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.190.0013.3038.40
Arkansas12.560.180.210.030.080.190.560.260.210.1416.4525.52
National7.831.300.880.230.450.561.590.480.360.5613.7914.86
White County20.420.200.020.030.020.050.040.080.310.0413.9339.32
St. Francis County20.080.010.000.030.030.000.020.010.210.0518.0813.56
Cross County15.070.040.000.000.000.000.000.000.301.0714.5428.04
Jackson County15.330.000.000.010.060.000.140.130.010.0016.1127.61
Prairie County16.950.000.000.000.000.000.000.010.110.0021.5430.44
Monroe County15.080.480.080.000.000.120.000.000.020.0319.6219.00
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Woodruff County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0088.220.0080.81150.47
Arkansas 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 725.57425.98701.32551.83290.47286.12182.05169.36416.5783.7958.22
White County 112.859.76102.9327.7723.566.5632.00144.2726.9784.64154.07
St. Francis County 5.060.0082.5933.430.003.275.17100.7633.58109.8553.15
Cross County 20.610.000.000.000.000.000.00142.59793.0388.38109.87
Jackson County 0.000.0018.2974.030.0024.9650.412.850.0097.89108.18
Prairie County 0.000.000.000.000.000.004.7753.380.00130.89119.30
Monroe County 268.1637.630.000.0064.610.000.007.3322.95119.2174.44
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Woodruff County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0052.090.0096.45258.44
Arkansas 13.7823.4814.2618.1234.4334.9554.9359.0424.01119.35171.75
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
White County 15.552.2914.685.038.112.2917.5885.186.47101.02264.62
St. Francis County 0.700.0011.786.060.001.142.8459.498.06131.1191.29
Cross County 2.840.000.000.000.000.000.0084.19190.37105.48188.70
Jackson County 0.000.002.6113.410.008.7227.691.680.00116.84185.80
Prairie County 0.000.000.000.000.000.002.6231.520.00156.23204.90
Monroe County 36.968.830.000.0022.240.000.004.335.51142.28127.85


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025