–

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)

Owen County	22,081	2,422	34	0	63	177	2	36	36	74	13	13
Indiana (in 000's)	6,972	477	12	3	68	396	51	28	26	419	128	90
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
Monroe County	141,616	8,792	187	35	1,105	3,586	566	589	495	3,095	1,045	861
Morgan County	74,237	9,945	187	9	452	751	76	95	31	202	70	92
Putnam County	37,958	4,291	58	12	64	463	56	8	187	859	203	97
Greene County	31,364	3,648	54	3	71	361	95	1	31	94	1	8
Clay County	26,729	2,941	45	6	106	291	0	80	23	60	26	23

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Owen County	24.50	10.97	0.15	0.00	0.29	0.80	0.01	0.16	0.16	0.34	0.06	0.06
Indiana	11.72	6.84	0.18	0.04	0.98	5.69	0.73	0.40	0.37	6.02	1.84	1.29
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
Monroe County	11.61	6.21	0.13	0.02	0.78	2.53	0.40	0.42	0.35	2.19	0.74	0.61
Morgan County	22.58	13.40	0.25	0.01	0.61	1.01	0.10	0.13	0.04	0.27	0.09	0.12
Putnam County	21.72	11.30	0.15	0.03	0.17	1.22	0.15	0.02	0.49	2.26	0.53	0.26
Greene County	21.27	11.63	0.17	0.01	0.23	1.15	0.30	0.00	0.10	0.30	0.00	0.03
Clay County	22.58	11.00	0.17	0.02	0.40	1.09	0.00	0.30	0.09	0.22	0.10	0.09

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

Owen County		160.42	86.15	0.00	29.15	14.10	1.24	40.62	44.16	5.57	3.20	4.55
Indiana		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		59.18	360.76	474.02	337.11	199.17	246.53	337.08	290.95	125.38	124.20	161.56
Monroe County		90.80	73.88	64.20	79.71	44.53	54.72	103.62	94.68	36.32	40.06	46.99
Morgan County		195.92	140.94	31.49	62.20	17.79	14.02	31.88	11.31	4.52	5.12	9.58
Putnam County		165.33	85.49	82.12	17.22	21.45	20.20	5.25	133.45	37.61	29.04	19.75
Greene County		170.11	96.33	24.85	23.13	20.24	41.47	0.79	26.77	4.98	0.17	1.97
Clay County		160.92	94.20	58.31	40.51	19.14	0.00	74.57	23.31	3.73	5.28	6.65

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

Owen County		271.06	23.88	0.00	8.65	7.08	0.50	12.05	15.18	4.44	2.57	2.82
Indiana		168.97	27.72	21.10	29.66	50.21	40.56	29.67	34.37	79.76	80.52	61.90
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Monroe County		153.42	20.48	13.54	23.65	22.36	22.19	30.74	32.54	28.97	32.26	29.09
Morgan County		331.04	39.07	6.64	18.45	8.93	5.68	9.46	3.89	3.61	4.12	5.93
Putnam County		279.36	23.70	17.32	5.11	10.77	8.19	1.56	45.87	30.00	23.38	12.23
Greene County		287.43	26.70	5.24	6.86	10.16	16.82	0.24	9.20	3.97	0.14	1.22
Clay County		271.90	26.11	12.30	12.02	9.61	0.00	22.12	8.01	2.98	4.25	4.12

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

Owen County	22,081	64	1,918	172	261	2,478	173	86	142	1,615	8	711
Indiana (in 000's)	6,972	12	487	58	71	932	98	110	69	486	11	189
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
Monroe County	141,616	195	12,685	1,212	1,555	16,512	2,826	2,286	2,430	12,163	349	5,707
Morgan County	74,237	99	6,415	704	556	8,428	593	438	708	5,779	58	1,450
Putnam County	37,958	63	3,014	283	298	3,900	578	230	312	2,746	0	1,152
Greene County	31,364	2	3,611	254	587	3,741	281	122	176	2,695	6	614
Clay County	26,729	155	2,691	251	408	3,637	310	104	152	1,699	81	375

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Owen County	24.50	0.29	8.69	0.78	1.18	11.22	0.78	0.39	0.64	7.31	0.04	3.22
Indiana	11.72	0.17	6.99	0.83	1.02	13.36	1.41	1.57	1.00	6.97	0.16	2.72
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
Monroe County	11.61	0.14	8.96	0.86	1.10	11.66	2.00	1.61	1.72	8.59	0.25	4.03
Morgan County	22.58	0.13	8.64	0.95	0.75	11.35	0.80	0.59	0.95	7.78	0.08	1.95
Putnam County	21.72	0.17	7.94	0.75	0.79	10.27	1.52	0.61	0.82	7.23	0.00	3.03
Greene County	21.27	0.01	11.51	0.81	1.87	11.93	0.90	0.39	0.56	8.59	0.02	1.96
Clay County	22.58	0.58	10.07	0.94	1.53	13.61	1.16	0.39	0.57	6.36	0.30	1.40

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

Owen County		166.07	124.31	93.83	115.48	83.97	55.75	24.74	64.62	104.91	22.71	118.60
Indiana		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		225.38	75.33	64.15	103.65	53.86	187.16	86.37	174.72	86.19	208.22	102.62
Monroe County		78.90	128.19	103.10	107.27	87.24	142.01	102.54	172.41	123.19	154.47	148.43
Morgan County		76.41	123.66	114.24	73.17	84.95	56.84	37.48	95.83	111.66	48.97	71.94
Putnam County		95.10	113.63	89.81	76.70	76.88	108.36	38.49	82.59	103.77	0.00	111.78
Greene County		3.65	164.76	97.56	182.84	89.25	63.76	24.71	56.38	123.25	11.99	72.10
Clay County		332.27	144.08	113.12	149.12	101.81	82.53	24.72	57.14	91.17	189.95	51.67

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

Owen County		73.69	165.01	146.27	111.41	155.90	29.79	28.65	36.98	121.72	10.91	115.57
Indiana		44.37	132.75	155.88	96.48	185.66	53.43	115.78	57.24	116.03	48.03	97.45
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Monroe County		35.01	170.16	160.70	103.49	161.98	75.88	118.73	98.68	142.94	74.19	144.64
Morgan County		33.90	164.16	178.07	70.59	157.72	30.37	43.40	54.85	129.56	23.52	70.10
Putnam County		42.20	150.84	140.00	74.00	142.74	57.90	44.57	47.27	120.40	0.00	108.93
Greene County		1.62	218.71	152.07	176.40	165.70	34.07	28.61	32.27	143.00	5.76	70.26
Clay County		147.43	191.25	176.33	143.87	189.03	44.10	28.62	32.70	105.79	91.23	50.36

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

Owen County	22,081	23	28	0	20	0	0	12	10	18	1,574	9,898
Indiana (in 000's)	6,972	31	17	6	11	9	57	33	12	19	819	1,736
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
Monroe County	141,616	2,813	528	353	1,103	462	2,816	285	456	953	18,607	34,964
Morgan County	74,237	89	82	6	17	0	33	80	62	36	5,662	31,032
Putnam County	37,958	167	6	71	30	19	88	11	18	25	2,777	15,872
Greene County	31,364	11	22	0	13	0	0	1	34	2	2,381	12,444
Clay County	26,729	0	24	0	0	0	21	0	31	10	2,017	11,162

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Owen County	24.50	0.10	0.13	0.00	0.09	0.00	0.00	0.05	0.05	0.08	7.13	44.83
Indiana	11.72	0.44	0.24	0.09	0.16	0.13	0.82	0.47	0.17	0.27	11.74	24.90
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
Monroe County	11.61	1.99	0.37	0.25	0.78	0.33	1.99	0.20	0.32	0.67	13.14	24.69
Morgan County	22.58	0.12	0.11	0.01	0.02	0.00	0.04	0.11	0.08	0.05	7.63	41.80
Putnam County	21.72	0.44	0.02	0.19	0.08	0.05	0.23	0.03	0.05	0.07	7.32	41.81
Greene County	21.27	0.04	0.07	0.00	0.04	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.11	0.01	7.59	39.68
Clay County	22.58	0.00	0.09	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.08	0.00	0.12	0.04	7.55	41.76

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

Owen County		23.75	53.44	0.00	57.73	0.00	0.00	11.51	26.40	30.46	60.71	180.03
Indiana		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		296.38	369.59	267.29	286.20	414.22	194.19	101.34	208.81	210.15	117.41	59.67
Monroe County		452.99	157.12	288.44	496.41	242.48	243.11	42.61	187.72	251.43	111.90	99.16
Morgan County		27.34	46.55	9.35	14.60	0.00	5.43	22.82	48.69	18.12	64.95	167.88
Putnam County		100.33	6.66	216.45	50.37	37.21	28.34	6.14	27.65	24.61	62.30	167.93
Greene County		8.00	29.56	0.00	26.42	0.00	0.00	0.68	63.20	2.38	64.65	159.35
Clay County		0.00	37.84	0.00	0.00	0.00	9.61	0.00	67.61	13.98	64.26	167.71

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

Owen County		8.01	14.46	0.00	20.17	0.00	0.00	11.35	12.64	14.49	51.71	301.70
Indiana		33.74	27.06	37.41	34.94	24.14	51.50	98.67	47.89	47.58	85.17	167.58
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Monroe County		152.84	42.51	107.91	173.45	58.54	125.19	42.05	89.90	119.64	95.30	166.17
Morgan County		9.22	12.59	3.50	5.10	0.00	2.80	22.51	23.32	8.62	55.32	281.34
Putnam County		33.85	1.80	80.98	17.60	8.98	14.60	6.05	13.24	11.71	53.07	281.43
Greene County		2.70	8.00	0.00	9.23	0.00	0.00	0.67	30.27	1.13	55.07	267.04
Clay County		0.00	10.24	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.95	0.00	32.38	6.65	54.74	281.06

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

Advertisers