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Dickinson 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:

18.61

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

German

 
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)

Dickinson County18,674819171533571225319323
Iowa (in 000's)3,267138951516129710724015
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
Clay County16,27259036345642143066919
O'Brien County14,2865334091204433054953621033
Jackson County9,93634621023356002318672
Emmet County9,27931635227650821713191364
Palo Alto County8,88440911610182726865306
Osceola County6,14226217294459125073411
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Dickinson County18.614.390.090.010.281.910.060.130.170.050.170.02
Iowa12.524.230.270.170.464.920.890.220.322.211.240.45
National7.834.050.640.183.3011.331.801.351.077.542.292.09
Clay County17.133.630.220.020.283.950.010.020.180.410.060.12
O'Brien County16.813.730.280.060.843.102.130.340.370.430.720.02
Jackson County19.283.480.210.000.023.370.600.000.230.180.670.02
Emmet County14.353.410.380.020.297.010.880.181.410.980.390.04
Palo Alto County17.584.600.120.070.112.050.810.070.090.730.340.07
Osceola County16.164.270.280.470.077.472.040.000.110.550.020.02
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Dickinson County 103.6633.593.2161.8638.887.1959.5952.692.1813.843.59
Iowa 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 95.65237.92109.49719.30230.38201.48602.19340.91341.89184.79466.70
Clay County 85.7081.6311.0660.2880.250.6910.9458.5218.384.4726.07
O'Brien County 88.18103.3137.80183.0963.07238.87152.66117.7519.6758.244.69
Jackson County 82.3177.990.004.3968.5867.560.0073.478.2154.474.49
Emmet County 80.49139.1812.9363.43142.4898.8781.55448.1044.4531.349.63
Palo Alto County 108.8145.6940.5224.5441.6790.6830.0628.5833.1627.2815.08
Osceola County 100.82102.13283.2914.20152.00227.700.0036.1725.091.323.64
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Dickinson County 108.3814.122.938.6016.883.579.9015.460.647.490.77
Iowa 104.5542.0391.3313.9043.4149.6316.6129.3329.2554.1221.43
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Clay County 89.6034.3110.108.3834.830.341.8217.175.382.425.59
O'Brien County 92.2043.4234.5225.4527.38118.5625.3534.545.7531.521.00
Jackson County 86.0532.780.000.6129.7733.530.0021.552.4029.480.96
Emmet County 84.1658.5011.818.8261.8549.0713.54131.4413.0016.962.06
Palo Alto County 113.7719.2037.013.4118.0945.004.998.389.7014.763.23
Osceola County 105.4142.93258.741.9765.98113.010.0010.617.340.710.78
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Dickinson County18,674281,0966562046,071141892,2461,37212240
Iowa (in 000's)3,2675204733670537211872745100
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
Clay County16,272157514141734,826129312,3191,10717265
O'Brien County14,28654731,9832244,29576246655873124
Jackson County9,936243212021013,625191021,2545447377
Emmet County9,2799421165591,98533651,31354759215
Palo Alto County8,884233841481042,72950239071,1183987
Osceola County6,14211135785741,810129241248051
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Dickinson County18.610.155.873.511.0932.510.760.4812.037.350.061.29
Iowa12.520.166.242.241.1121.591.140.655.738.390.153.05
National7.830.395.260.531.067.202.631.361.746.010.332.79
Clay County17.130.094.622.541.0629.660.790.1914.256.800.101.63
O'Brien County16.810.033.3113.881.5730.060.530.174.654.110.020.87
Jackson County19.280.243.232.031.0236.480.191.0312.625.480.073.79
Emmet County14.350.104.541.780.6421.390.360.7014.155.900.642.32
Palo Alto County17.580.264.321.671.1730.720.560.2610.2112.580.440.98
Osceola County16.160.182.2012.781.2029.470.200.153.924.040.000.83
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Dickinson County 91.8494.11157.1098.73150.5966.0573.57210.0287.5442.3042.15
Iowa 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 240.9284.4023.8295.8933.34230.07209.8730.3671.59218.6791.37
Clay County 56.4674.00113.7896.09137.3869.3529.41248.8581.0668.7753.41
O'Brien County 21.4453.09620.77141.71139.2646.5425.9381.2848.9613.8228.46
Jackson County 147.9451.8090.9291.87169.0016.73158.47220.3865.2346.38124.43
Emmet County 59.4172.7579.5257.4799.0931.11108.13247.0970.24418.5675.98
Palo Alto County 158.5769.3174.50105.80142.2949.2339.96178.27149.94288.9732.11
Osceola County 109.6935.24571.58108.89136.5017.0922.6268.5248.110.0027.23
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Dickinson County 38.12111.49659.64102.97451.6428.7135.05691.69122.2819.3446.13
Iowa 41.51118.48419.87104.29299.9143.4747.65329.35139.6845.73109.45
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Clay County 23.4487.68477.75100.21412.0230.1414.01819.59113.2231.4558.45
O'Brien County 8.9062.902,606.46147.79417.6620.2312.36267.7068.386.3231.15
Jackson County 61.4161.37381.7595.81506.847.2775.51725.8191.1221.21136.18
Emmet County 24.6686.19333.9059.93297.1913.5251.52813.7798.11191.4183.16
Palo Alto County 65.8282.11312.82110.34426.7421.4019.04587.13209.44132.1535.15
Osceola County 45.5341.752,399.93113.56409.397.4310.78225.6667.200.0029.80
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Dickinson County18,674294011105119327894,233
Iowa (in 000's)3,267126179191688310720
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
Clay County16,272841300328301,1723,531
O'Brien County14,2861700201345569703,049
Jackson County9,936049690039666091,762
Emmet County9,2798004700807542,236
Palo Alto County8,884102700410304991,923
Osceola County6,14206031325006111,178
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Dickinson County18.610.160.210.010.060.000.030.010.100.174.2322.67
Iowa12.520.360.190.040.230.270.590.500.250.259.4822.04
National7.831.300.880.230.450.561.590.480.360.5613.7914.86
Clay County17.130.050.020.010.180.000.020.170.020.007.2021.70
O'Brien County16.810.120.000.000.010.000.090.310.030.046.7921.34
Jackson County19.280.000.490.060.090.000.000.390.060.066.1317.73
Emmet County14.350.090.000.000.040.080.000.000.090.008.1324.10
Palo Alto County17.580.110.300.000.000.050.010.000.030.005.6221.65
Osceola County16.160.000.100.000.050.020.050.410.000.009.9519.18
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Dickinson County 43.35112.7614.4626.080.004.561.0840.7469.8744.56102.83
Iowa 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 362.77461.68623.66198.84204.04270.8096.34143.40229.35145.4167.40
Clay County 13.7212.9416.5981.640.003.1434.647.380.0075.9798.44
O'Brien County 33.220.000.006.200.0015.5163.4014.0117.1371.6196.82
Jackson County 0.00259.61163.0440.110.000.0079.0124.1824.6264.6480.45
Emmet County 24.070.000.0019.0927.620.000.0034.520.0085.70109.32
Palo Alto County 31.42159.990.000.0016.481.920.0013.520.0059.2498.20
Osceola County 0.0051.430.0021.635.968.3381.930.000.00104.9287.01
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Dickinson County 11.9524.422.3213.120.001.691.1228.4130.4730.65152.56
Iowa 27.5721.6616.0350.2949.0136.93103.8069.7443.6068.77148.36
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Clay County 3.782.802.6641.060.001.1635.955.150.0052.24146.05
O'Brien County 9.160.000.003.120.005.7365.819.777.4749.25143.64
Jackson County 0.0056.2326.1420.170.000.0082.0116.8610.7444.46119.35
Emmet County 6.630.000.009.6013.540.000.0024.070.0058.94162.19
Palo Alto County 8.6634.650.000.008.080.710.009.430.0040.74145.68
Osceola County 0.0011.140.0010.882.923.0885.040.000.0072.16129.09


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025