–

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:

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

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

Gulf County	15,883	1,326	71	0	183	202	144	27	54	1,029	433	422
Florida (in 000's)	23,644	1,123	45	12	3,332	817	648	1,215	280	1,899	504	1,006
National (in 000's)	343,251	13,890	2,213	626	11,327	38,879	6,181	4,644	3,687	25,893	7,852	7,174
Bay County	204,992	16,987	903	226	6,166	5,231	3,099	1,876	606	13,370	3,214	3,972
Franklin County	13,164	1,100	36	2	354	207	118	14	9	958	221	239
Calhoun County	13,494	1,615	101	0	424	82	74	18	23	952	295	347
Liberty County	8,104	700	53	1	107	274	133	29	50	1,033	127	109

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Gulf County	14.87	8.35	0.45	0.00	1.15	1.27	0.91	0.17	0.34	6.48	2.73	2.66
Florida	7.98	4.75	0.19	0.05	14.09	3.46	2.74	5.14	1.18	8.03	2.13	4.25
National	7.83	4.05	0.64	0.18	3.30	11.33	1.80	1.35	1.07	7.54	2.29	2.09
Bay County	10.51	8.29	0.44	0.11	3.01	2.55	1.51	0.92	0.30	6.52	1.57	1.94
Franklin County	14.06	8.36	0.27	0.02	2.69	1.57	0.90	0.11	0.07	7.28	1.68	1.82
Calhoun County	16.61	11.97	0.75	0.00	3.14	0.61	0.55	0.13	0.17	7.05	2.19	2.57
Liberty County	15.40	8.64	0.65	0.01	1.32	3.38	1.64	0.36	0.62	12.75	1.57	1.35

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Gulf County		175.73	233.57	0.00	8.18	36.81	33.09	3.31	28.72	80.65	127.91	62.46
Florida		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		85.18	336.91	349.95	23.42	327.82	65.72	26.32	90.72	93.91	107.33	49.14
Bay County		174.43	230.17	211.43	21.35	73.86	55.17	17.81	24.97	81.19	73.56	45.55
Franklin County		175.89	142.89	29.14	19.08	45.51	32.72	2.07	5.77	90.59	78.77	42.68
Calhoun County		251.93	391.09	0.00	22.30	17.59	20.01	2.60	14.40	87.82	102.57	60.45
Liberty County		181.82	341.72	23.66	9.37	97.86	59.90	6.96	52.11	158.68	73.53	31.62

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Gulf County		206.31	69.33	0.00	34.91	11.23	50.35	12.56	31.65	85.88	119.18	127.12
Florida		117.40	29.68	28.58	427.01	30.50	152.15	379.88	110.23	106.49	93.17	203.52
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Bay County		204.78	68.32	60.42	91.15	22.53	83.95	67.64	27.52	86.46	68.54	92.71
Franklin County		206.49	42.41	8.33	81.49	13.88	49.78	7.86	6.37	96.47	73.39	86.87
Calhoun County		295.76	116.08	0.00	95.22	5.37	30.45	9.86	15.87	93.52	95.57	123.03
Liberty County		213.45	101.43	6.76	40.01	29.85	91.14	26.45	57.44	168.98	68.51	64.35

Ancestry Report Part II
Description	Total Population	Canadian	British	Dutch	French	German	Italian	Polish	Scandinavian	Scotish/ Irish	Spanish	Other European

Gulf County	15,883	22	1,502	55	178	817	331	66	138	1,258	29	280
Florida (in 000's)	23,644	102	1,102	85	212	1,118	706	266	217	1,225	81	613
National (in 000's)	343,251	1,350	18,069	1,828	3,642	24,708	9,027	4,667	5,969	20,625	1,140	9,563
Bay County	204,992	945	17,070	921	3,476	13,209	4,074	2,121	2,521	18,252	595	5,132
Franklin County	13,164	43	969	47	100	603	326	84	124	1,575	33	271
Calhoun County	13,494	34	801	50	64	657	116	64	39	1,076	0	122
Liberty County	8,104	0	542	30	49	289	112	16	46	609	0	91

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Gulf County	14.87	0.14	9.46	0.35	1.12	5.14	2.08	0.42	0.87	7.92	0.18	1.76
Florida	7.98	0.43	4.66	0.36	0.90	4.73	2.99	1.12	0.92	5.18	0.34	2.59
National	7.83	0.39	5.26	0.53	1.06	7.20	2.63	1.36	1.74	6.01	0.33	2.79
Bay County	10.51	0.46	8.33	0.45	1.70	6.44	1.99	1.03	1.23	8.90	0.29	2.50
Franklin County	14.06	0.33	7.36	0.36	0.76	4.58	2.48	0.64	0.94	11.96	0.25	2.06
Calhoun County	16.61	0.25	5.94	0.37	0.47	4.87	0.86	0.47	0.29	7.97	0.00	0.90
Liberty County	15.40	0.00	6.69	0.37	0.60	3.57	1.38	0.20	0.57	7.51	0.00	1.12

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Gulf County		32.03	202.91	96.50	124.98	108.82	69.75	36.99	94.61	152.87	53.07	68.01
Florida		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		90.95	112.95	148.41	118.32	152.28	88.02	121.03	189.34	115.97	96.56	107.49
Bay County		106.60	178.67	125.21	189.11	136.31	66.52	92.11	133.91	171.85	84.37	96.58
Franklin County		75.53	157.94	99.50	84.72	96.90	82.89	56.80	102.57	230.92	72.87	79.42
Calhoun County		58.26	127.36	103.26	52.89	103.00	28.77	42.22	31.47	153.90	0.00	34.88
Liberty County		0.00	143.50	103.16	67.43	75.44	46.26	17.58	61.81	145.04	0.00	43.32

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Gulf County		35.21	179.65	65.02	105.63	71.46	79.24	30.56	49.97	131.82	54.96	63.27
Florida		109.95	88.54	67.38	84.52	65.67	113.61	82.62	52.81	86.23	103.57	93.04
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Bay County		117.20	158.19	84.36	159.82	89.52	75.57	76.10	70.73	148.18	87.38	89.86
Franklin County		83.04	139.84	67.04	71.60	63.64	94.16	46.93	54.17	199.12	75.46	73.89
Calhoun County		64.06	112.76	69.58	44.70	67.64	32.69	34.88	16.62	132.71	0.00	32.45
Liberty County		0.00	127.05	69.51	56.99	49.54	52.55	14.52	32.64	125.07	0.00	40.30

Ancestry Report Part III
Description	Total Population	Chinese	Filipino	Japanese	Korean	Vietnamese	South Central Asian	South East Asian	Other Asian	Middle Eastern	Other Ancestry	Unknown

Gulf County	15,883	1	6	0	0	0	63	0	2	16	2,321	4,907
Florida (in 000's)	23,644	107	125	17	27	91	226	55	31	107	3,328	2,921
National (in 000's)	343,251	4,461	3,010	793	1,541	1,913	5,452	1,643	1,229	1,931	47,322	51,000
Bay County	204,992	246	1,247	83	461	858	584	689	182	924	30,728	45,024
Franklin County	13,164	1	9	0	1	0	7	18	1	44	1,830	3,820
Calhoun County	13,494	0	12	0	7	14	31	10	0	25	1,936	4,505
Liberty County	8,104	1	0	0	0	6	5	4	3	18	1,155	2,512

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Gulf County	14.87	0.01	0.04	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.40	0.00	0.01	0.10	14.61	30.89
Florida	7.98	0.45	0.53	0.07	0.12	0.38	0.95	0.23	0.13	0.45	14.08	12.36
National	7.83	1.30	0.88	0.23	0.45	0.56	1.59	0.48	0.36	0.56	13.79	14.86
Bay County	10.51	0.12	0.61	0.04	0.22	0.42	0.28	0.34	0.09	0.45	14.99	21.96
Franklin County	14.06	0.01	0.07	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.05	0.14	0.01	0.33	13.90	29.02
Calhoun County	16.61	0.00	0.09	0.00	0.05	0.10	0.23	0.07	0.00	0.19	14.35	33.39
Liberty County	15.40	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.07	0.06	0.05	0.04	0.22	14.25	31.00

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Gulf County		1.39	7.14	0.00	0.00	0.00	41.58	0.00	9.73	22.20	103.81	250.04
Florida		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		286.33	165.74	329.95	389.12	145.48	166.51	204.25	276.79	123.93	97.94	120.25
Bay County		26.44	114.96	57.84	194.87	109.26	29.87	143.43	68.61	99.32	106.49	177.76
Franklin County		1.67	12.92	0.00	6.58	0.00	5.57	58.35	5.87	73.65	98.76	234.85
Calhoun County		0.00	16.81	0.00	44.95	27.08	24.08	31.62	0.00	40.82	101.92	270.20
Liberty County		2.72	0.00	0.00	0.00	19.33	6.47	21.06	28.61	48.94	101.25	250.87

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Gulf County		0.48	4.31	0.00	0.00	0.00	24.97	0.00	3.52	17.91	106.00	207.93
Florida		34.92	60.34	30.31	25.70	68.74	60.05	48.96	36.13	80.69	102.11	83.16
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Bay County		9.23	69.36	17.53	50.08	75.11	17.94	70.22	24.79	80.14	108.73	147.83
Franklin County		0.58	7.80	0.00	1.69	0.00	3.35	28.57	2.12	59.43	100.83	195.31
Calhoun County		0.00	10.14	0.00	11.55	18.62	14.46	15.48	0.00	32.94	104.07	224.70
Liberty County		0.95	0.00	0.00	0.00	13.29	3.88	10.31	10.34	39.49	103.38	208.62

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

Advertisers