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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:

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)

Renville County	14,514	336	92	5	32	1,058	81	23	133	80	7	3
Minnesota (in 000's)	5,840	149	55	3	30	230	37	36	21	191	160	40
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
Kandiyohi County	45,069	1,225	114	33	87	4,202	1,066	238	527	727	1,758	101
McLeod County	36,740	1,144	92	25	166	2,211	45	70	122	60	115	26
Nicollet County	34,748	1,030	156	15	53	1,279	336	43	79	452	869	98
Brown County	25,819	786	34	4	102	915	81	40	80	85	67	10
Meeker County	23,608	610	36	2	29	771	106	12	56	47	14	7
Sibley County	15,269	365	29	8	110	1,104	152	2	38	90	19	1
Redwood County	15,375	427	683	1	13	463	42	13	21	45	13	20
Chippewa County	12,385	190	94	262	15	545	441	47	179	66	21	2
Yellow Medicine County	9,367	200	243	1	17	258	140	5	23	36	17	0

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Renville County	17.32	2.32	0.63	0.03	0.22	7.29	0.56	0.16	0.92	0.55	0.05	0.02
Minnesota	10.33	2.55	0.95	0.05	0.52	3.94	0.64	0.61	0.36	3.26	2.73	0.69
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
Kandiyohi County	12.38	2.72	0.25	0.07	0.19	9.32	2.37	0.53	1.17	1.61	3.90	0.22
McLeod County	18.87	3.11	0.25	0.07	0.45	6.02	0.12	0.19	0.33	0.16	0.31	0.07
Nicollet County	16.78	2.96	0.45	0.04	0.15	3.68	0.97	0.12	0.23	1.30	2.50	0.28
Brown County	27.28	3.04	0.13	0.02	0.40	3.54	0.31	0.15	0.31	0.33	0.26	0.04
Meeker County	18.81	2.58	0.15	0.01	0.12	3.27	0.45	0.05	0.24	0.20	0.06	0.03
Sibley County	23.32	2.39	0.19	0.05	0.72	7.23	1.00	0.01	0.25	0.59	0.12	0.01
Redwood County	18.65	2.78	4.44	0.01	0.08	3.01	0.27	0.08	0.14	0.29	0.08	0.13
Chippewa County	15.77	1.53	0.76	2.12	0.12	4.40	3.56	0.38	1.45	0.53	0.17	0.02
Yellow Medicine County	17.26	2.14	2.59	0.01	0.18	2.75	1.49	0.05	0.25	0.38	0.18	0.00

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

Renville County		90.83	66.76	74.29	42.57	185.03	87.03	25.89	257.82	16.89	1.77	3.01
Minnesota		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		158.77	67.91	393.55	637.16	287.50	280.84	221.03	302.20	231.15	83.72	304.22
Kandiyohi County		106.64	26.64	157.91	37.27	236.65	368.87	86.27	329.00	49.43	142.76	32.62
McLeod County		122.17	26.37	146.75	87.24	152.75	19.10	31.13	93.43	5.00	11.46	10.30
Nicollet County		116.30	47.28	93.10	29.45	93.43	150.80	20.22	63.97	39.86	91.53	41.05
Brown County		119.44	13.87	33.41	76.28	89.95	48.93	25.31	87.18	10.09	9.50	5.64
Meeker County		101.38	16.06	18.27	23.72	82.90	70.02	8.30	66.74	6.10	2.17	4.32
Sibley County		93.79	20.00	112.99	139.10	183.52	155.25	2.14	70.02	18.06	4.55	0.95
Redwood County		108.97	467.84	14.03	16.33	76.44	42.60	13.81	38.43	8.97	3.09	18.93
Chippewa County		60.19	79.93	4,562.27	23.39	111.70	555.31	62.00	406.65	16.33	6.21	2.35
Yellow Medicine County		83.77	273.21	23.02	35.04	69.91	233.09	8.72	69.09	11.78	6.64	0.00

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

Renville County		57.21	98.31	18.88	6.68	64.36	30.99	11.71	85.32	7.31	2.11	0.99
Minnesota		62.98	147.26	25.41	15.69	34.78	35.61	45.24	33.09	43.26	119.45	32.87
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Kandiyohi County		67.17	39.23	40.12	5.85	82.31	131.35	39.03	108.87	21.38	170.52	10.72
McLeod County		76.95	38.84	37.29	13.69	53.13	6.80	14.08	30.92	2.16	13.68	3.39
Nicollet County		73.25	69.63	23.66	4.62	32.50	53.70	9.15	21.17	17.24	109.33	13.49
Brown County		75.23	20.42	8.49	11.97	31.29	17.42	11.45	28.85	4.36	11.34	1.85
Meeker County		63.85	23.65	4.64	3.72	28.83	24.93	3.76	22.08	2.64	2.59	1.42
Sibley County		59.07	29.46	28.71	21.83	63.83	55.28	0.97	23.17	7.81	5.44	0.31
Redwood County		68.63	688.95	3.56	2.56	26.59	15.17	6.25	12.72	3.88	3.70	6.22
Chippewa County		37.91	117.71	1,159.26	3.67	38.85	197.73	28.05	134.56	7.06	7.41	0.77
Yellow Medicine County		52.76	402.34	5.85	5.50	24.32	83.00	3.95	22.86	5.09	7.93	0.00

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

Renville County	14,514	23	306	192	160	4,703	48	108	2,187	689	4	467
Minnesota (in 000's)	5,840	30	206	47	91	1,106	69	128	850	336	11	201
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
Kandiyohi County	45,069	97	1,196	1,365	395	9,069	153	351	9,162	1,545	95	851
McLeod County	36,740	102	914	250	429	13,395	180	1,248	4,113	1,660	12	1,257
Nicollet County	34,748	77	1,091	261	493	11,301	203	347	4,895	1,810	7	968
Brown County	25,819	124	551	108	315	12,377	75	227	2,690	954	20	587
Meeker County	23,608	87	743	242	320	7,706	115	496	4,537	1,235	28	617
Sibley County	15,269	40	279	72	137	6,617	53	158	1,340	849	41	246
Redwood County	15,375	36	357	83	234	5,489	79	177	1,823	539	25	325
Chippewa County	12,385	36	254	301	82	2,899	25	107	3,195	368	21	184
Yellow Medicine County	9,367	9	205	105	283	2,385	49	178	2,450	303	8	142

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Renville County	17.32	0.16	2.11	1.32	1.10	32.40	0.33	0.74	15.07	4.75	0.03	3.22
Minnesota	10.33	0.52	3.53	0.81	1.56	18.94	1.18	2.18	14.55	5.75	0.19	3.44
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
Kandiyohi County	12.38	0.22	2.65	3.03	0.88	20.12	0.34	0.78	20.33	3.43	0.21	1.89
McLeod County	18.87	0.28	2.49	0.68	1.17	36.46	0.49	3.40	11.19	4.52	0.03	3.42
Nicollet County	16.78	0.22	3.14	0.75	1.42	32.52	0.58	1.00	14.09	5.21	0.02	2.79
Brown County	27.28	0.48	2.13	0.42	1.22	47.94	0.29	0.88	10.42	3.69	0.08	2.27
Meeker County	18.81	0.37	3.15	1.03	1.36	32.64	0.49	2.10	19.22	5.23	0.12	2.61
Sibley County	23.32	0.26	1.83	0.47	0.90	43.34	0.35	1.03	8.78	5.56	0.27	1.61
Redwood County	18.65	0.23	2.32	0.54	1.52	35.70	0.51	1.15	11.86	3.51	0.16	2.11
Chippewa County	15.77	0.29	2.05	2.43	0.66	23.41	0.20	0.86	25.80	2.97	0.17	1.49
Yellow Medicine County	17.26	0.10	2.19	1.12	3.02	25.46	0.52	1.90	26.16	3.23	0.09	1.52

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

Renville County		30.58	59.66	164.18	70.84	171.11	28.03	34.08	103.54	82.50	14.37	93.63
Minnesota		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		75.91	148.97	66.10	68.18	38.01	222.87	62.28	11.95	104.42	173.19	81.08
Kandiyohi County		41.54	75.10	375.89	56.32	106.26	28.77	35.67	139.68	59.58	109.89	54.95
McLeod County		53.58	70.40	84.45	75.03	192.53	41.52	155.59	76.92	78.52	17.03	99.56
Nicollet County		42.77	88.85	93.22	91.17	171.74	49.51	45.74	96.80	90.52	10.50	81.07
Brown County		92.69	60.39	51.92	78.40	253.14	24.62	40.27	71.59	64.21	40.38	66.16
Meeker County		71.12	89.06	127.22	87.10	172.37	41.28	96.24	132.05	90.91	61.83	76.06
Sibley County		50.56	51.71	58.52	57.66	228.84	29.42	47.40	60.30	96.63	139.99	46.88
Redwood County		45.19	65.71	67.00	97.80	188.52	43.54	52.73	81.47	60.92	84.77	61.51
Chippewa County		56.10	58.04	301.63	42.55	123.61	17.11	39.57	177.26	51.64	88.40	43.23
Yellow Medicine County		18.54	61.93	139.12	194.15	134.45	44.33	87.04	179.72	56.22	44.53	44.12

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

Renville County		40.29	40.05	248.40	103.90	450.15	12.57	54.73	866.56	79.01	8.30	115.49
Minnesota		131.73	67.13	151.30	146.67	263.08	44.87	160.57	836.96	95.77	57.74	123.34
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Kandiyohi County		54.72	50.41	568.71	82.61	279.55	12.91	57.28	1,169.10	57.05	63.45	67.77
McLeod County		70.58	47.26	127.77	110.06	506.50	18.63	249.84	643.81	75.20	9.83	122.80
Nicollet County		56.34	59.65	141.04	133.73	451.81	22.21	73.45	810.14	86.69	6.06	99.99
Brown County		122.10	40.54	78.55	114.99	665.96	11.05	64.67	599.17	61.49	23.32	81.60
Meeker County		93.69	59.79	192.48	127.76	453.46	18.52	154.53	1,105.22	87.06	35.70	93.80
Sibley County		66.60	34.71	88.54	84.57	602.04	13.20	76.11	504.70	92.54	80.83	57.83
Redwood County		59.53	44.11	101.37	143.45	495.96	19.54	84.67	681.88	58.34	48.95	75.87
Chippewa County		73.90	38.96	456.36	62.40	325.18	7.68	63.54	1,483.59	49.45	51.04	53.32
Yellow Medicine County		24.43	41.58	210.49	284.76	353.72	19.89	139.77	1,504.19	53.83	25.71	54.41

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

Renville County	14,514	0	5	0	20	0	0	32	27	10	1,267	2,416
Minnesota (in 000's)	5,840	31	14	4	16	30	56	50	96	21	564	931
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
Kandiyohi County	45,069	15	20	2	74	11	9	386	66	9	3,849	6,271
McLeod County	36,740	65	4	30	50	16	10	24	32	21	2,709	6,143
Nicollet County	34,748	124	62	72	44	47	138	26	21	69	2,284	5,998
Brown County	25,819	24	12	0	15	25	19	10	37	17	1,400	4,028
Meeker County	23,608	9	0	2	3	35	0	8	4	1	1,356	4,374
Sibley County	15,269	3	12	0	7	0	39	5	1	10	1,196	2,246
Redwood County	15,375	8	2	0	22	3	1	13	355	1	1,413	2,649
Chippewa County	12,385	6	7	1	6	0	69	9	4	0	1,130	1,819
Yellow Medicine County	9,367	11	0	0	9	0	0	5	0	0	707	1,578

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Renville County	17.32	0.00	0.03	0.00	0.14	0.00	0.00	0.22	0.19	0.07	8.73	16.65
Minnesota	10.33	0.54	0.24	0.08	0.28	0.51	0.97	0.85	1.64	0.36	9.67	15.94
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
Kandiyohi County	12.38	0.03	0.04	0.00	0.16	0.02	0.02	0.86	0.15	0.02	8.54	13.91
McLeod County	18.87	0.18	0.01	0.08	0.14	0.04	0.03	0.07	0.09	0.06	7.37	16.72
Nicollet County	16.78	0.36	0.18	0.21	0.13	0.14	0.40	0.07	0.06	0.20	6.57	17.26
Brown County	27.28	0.09	0.05	0.00	0.06	0.10	0.07	0.04	0.14	0.07	5.42	15.60
Meeker County	18.81	0.04	0.00	0.01	0.01	0.15	0.00	0.03	0.02	0.00	5.74	18.53
Sibley County	23.32	0.02	0.08	0.00	0.05	0.00	0.26	0.03	0.01	0.07	7.83	14.71
Redwood County	18.65	0.05	0.01	0.00	0.14	0.02	0.01	0.08	2.31	0.01	9.19	17.23
Chippewa County	15.77	0.05	0.06	0.01	0.05	0.00	0.56	0.07	0.03	0.00	9.12	14.69
Yellow Medicine County	17.26	0.12	0.00	0.00	0.10	0.00	0.00	0.05	0.00	0.00	7.55	16.85

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

Renville County		0.00	14.65	0.00	49.11	0.00	0.00	25.79	11.35	19.34	90.32	104.44
Minnesota		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		241.10	372.94	306.03	160.04	110.04	164.48	55.98	21.85	157.89	142.64	93.22
Kandiyohi County		6.17	18.87	5.88	58.52	4.82	2.07	100.17	8.93	5.61	88.36	87.30
McLeod County		32.82	4.63	108.18	48.50	8.60	2.82	7.64	5.31	16.04	76.29	104.91
Nicollet County		66.20	75.87	274.53	45.13	26.71	41.13	8.75	3.69	55.74	68.01	108.30
Brown County		17.24	19.76	0.00	20.71	19.12	7.62	4.53	8.74	18.48	56.10	97.88
Meeker County		7.07	0.00	11.22	4.53	29.27	0.00	3.96	1.03	1.19	59.43	116.25
Sibley County		3.64	33.42	0.00	16.34	0.00	26.45	3.83	0.40	18.38	81.04	92.29
Redwood County		9.65	5.53	0.00	51.00	3.85	0.67	9.89	140.86	1.83	95.09	108.10
Chippewa County		8.99	24.03	10.70	17.27	0.00	57.69	8.50	1.97	0.00	94.40	92.15
Yellow Medicine County		21.79	0.00	0.00	34.24	0.00	0.00	6.24	0.00	0.00	78.09	105.70

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

Renville County		0.00	3.93	0.00	30.69	0.00	0.00	46.06	51.94	12.25	63.32	112.03
Minnesota		41.48	26.81	32.68	62.49	90.88	60.80	178.63	457.65	63.34	70.11	107.27
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Kandiyohi County		2.56	5.06	1.92	36.56	4.38	1.26	178.94	40.89	3.55	61.95	93.65
McLeod County		13.61	1.24	35.35	30.31	7.81	1.71	13.65	24.32	10.16	53.48	112.53
Nicollet County		27.46	20.34	89.71	28.20	24.27	25.00	15.63	16.87	35.30	47.68	116.18
Brown County		7.15	5.30	0.00	12.94	17.37	4.63	8.09	40.01	11.71	39.33	105.00
Meeker County		2.93	0.00	3.67	2.83	26.60	0.00	7.08	4.73	0.75	41.66	124.70
Sibley County		1.51	8.96	0.00	10.21	0.00	16.08	6.84	1.83	11.64	56.82	99.00
Redwood County		4.00	1.48	0.00	31.87	3.50	0.41	17.67	644.66	1.16	66.66	115.96
Chippewa County		3.73	6.44	3.50	10.79	0.00	35.08	15.18	9.02	0.00	66.18	98.85
Yellow Medicine County		9.04	0.00	0.00	21.40	0.00	0.00	11.15	0.00	0.00	54.75	113.38

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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