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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)

Lowndes County	57,954	3,155	111	20	29	977	35	147	115	17,138	4,161	4,111
Mississippi (in 000's)	2,976	220	14	1	16	60	16	5	8	736	171	161
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
Oktibbeha County	52,582	2,091	94	10	121	620	216	212	127	12,800	3,324	2,801
Monroe County	33,738	2,901	45	2	12	388	27	20	30	6,766	1,841	1,795
Clay County	18,559	425	29	1	0	87	0	0	26	7,044	1,952	1,884
Pickens County	18,737	1,717	27	0	54	380	87	0	584	4,571	1,385	1,329
Lamar County	13,585	1,712	30	2	78	93	18	19	9	804	255	254
Noxubee County	9,931	245	11	0	7	64	0	2	16	4,551	1,280	1,262

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Lowndes County	15.89	5.44	0.19	0.03	0.05	1.69	0.06	0.25	0.20	29.57	7.18	7.09
Mississippi	13.85	7.39	0.47	0.04	0.55	2.03	0.54	0.18	0.28	24.71	5.76	5.40
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
Oktibbeha County	13.94	3.98	0.18	0.02	0.23	1.18	0.41	0.40	0.24	24.34	6.32	5.33
Monroe County	14.50	8.60	0.13	0.01	0.04	1.15	0.08	0.06	0.09	20.05	5.46	5.32
Clay County	21.82	2.29	0.16	0.01	0.00	0.47	0.00	0.00	0.14	37.95	10.52	10.15
Pickens County	15.35	9.16	0.14	0.00	0.29	2.03	0.46	0.00	3.12	24.40	7.39	7.09
Lamar County	20.98	12.60	0.22	0.01	0.57	0.68	0.13	0.14	0.07	5.92	1.88	1.87
Noxubee County	27.19	2.47	0.11	0.00	0.07	0.64	0.00	0.02	0.16	45.83	12.89	12.71

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

Lowndes County		73.69	41.00	96.71	9.11	83.20	11.19	144.82	69.85	119.65	124.75	131.29
Mississippi		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		54.78	138.02	511.41	601.03	559.03	333.79	772.44	378.09	30.52	39.75	38.68
Oktibbeha County		53.83	38.27	53.30	41.91	58.20	76.14	230.19	85.02	98.49	109.84	98.59
Monroe County		116.40	28.55	16.61	6.48	56.76	14.83	33.84	31.30	81.14	94.81	98.47
Clay County		31.00	33.45	15.10	0.00	23.14	0.00	0.00	49.31	153.57	182.75	187.88
Pickens County		124.05	30.85	0.00	52.49	100.10	86.06	0.00	1,097.15	98.71	128.44	131.28
Lamar County		170.59	47.27	41.26	104.57	33.79	24.56	79.85	23.32	23.95	32.62	34.60
Noxubee County		33.40	23.71	0.00	12.84	31.81	0.00	11.50	56.71	185.42	223.95	235.19

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

Lowndes County		134.53	29.70	18.91	1.52	14.88	3.35	18.75	18.47	392.01	313.87	339.39
Mississippi		182.55	72.45	19.55	16.64	17.89	29.96	12.95	26.45	327.63	251.59	258.51
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Oktibbeha County		98.27	27.73	10.42	6.97	10.41	22.81	29.80	22.49	322.70	276.35	254.87
Monroe County		212.49	20.69	3.25	1.08	10.15	4.44	4.38	8.28	265.85	238.54	254.55
Clay County		56.59	24.23	2.95	0.00	4.14	0.00	0.00	13.04	503.14	459.79	485.69
Pickens County		226.45	22.35	0.00	8.73	17.91	25.78	0.00	290.19	323.40	323.13	339.36
Lamar County		311.42	34.25	8.07	17.40	6.04	7.36	10.34	6.17	78.45	82.06	89.46
Noxubee County		60.96	17.18	0.00	2.14	5.69	0.00	1.49	15.00	607.49	563.44	608.00

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

Lowndes County	57,954	11	3,610	116	126	1,473	364	155	174	2,259	80	403
Mississippi (in 000's)	2,976	5	165	6	30	73	26	6	11	156	5	31
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
Oktibbeha County	52,582	45	3,952	70	411	1,656	512	105	334	2,982	28	847
Monroe County	33,738	59	3,471	39	144	698	90	58	136	1,709	0	211
Clay County	18,559	4	701	14	71	126	40	20	34	377	4	25
Pickens County	18,737	0	531	20	38	176	54	3	7	577	0	65
Lamar County	13,585	1	1,158	63	103	352	94	3	64	989	0	146
Noxubee County	9,931	0	106	2	0	113	6	17	1	90	0	17

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Lowndes County	15.89	0.02	6.23	0.20	0.22	2.54	0.63	0.27	0.30	3.90	0.14	0.70
Mississippi	13.85	0.17	5.56	0.20	1.02	2.45	0.88	0.19	0.36	5.24	0.17	1.03
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
Oktibbeha County	13.94	0.09	7.52	0.13	0.78	3.15	0.97	0.20	0.64	5.67	0.05	1.61
Monroe County	14.50	0.17	10.29	0.12	0.43	2.07	0.27	0.17	0.40	5.07	0.00	0.63
Clay County	21.82	0.02	3.78	0.08	0.38	0.68	0.22	0.11	0.18	2.03	0.02	0.13
Pickens County	15.35	0.00	2.83	0.11	0.20	0.94	0.29	0.02	0.04	3.08	0.00	0.35
Lamar County	20.98	0.01	8.52	0.46	0.76	2.59	0.69	0.02	0.47	7.28	0.00	1.07
Noxubee County	27.19	0.00	1.07	0.02	0.00	1.14	0.06	0.17	0.01	0.91	0.00	0.17

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

Lowndes County		11.36	112.10	100.58	21.33	103.92	71.61	142.83	83.57	74.32	80.27	67.32
Mississippi		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		235.41	94.73	267.60	104.09	294.30	299.85	726.09	484.03	114.57	193.18	269.73
Oktibbeha County		51.22	135.26	66.89	76.68	128.76	111.02	106.64	176.81	108.13	30.97	155.94
Monroe County		104.66	185.15	58.09	41.87	84.59	30.41	91.81	112.21	96.58	0.00	60.55
Clay County		12.90	67.98	37.91	37.53	27.76	24.57	57.55	51.00	38.73	12.53	13.04
Pickens County		0.00	51.00	53.64	19.90	38.40	32.86	8.55	10.40	58.72	0.00	33.58
Lamar County		4.41	153.40	233.03	74.38	105.94	78.89	11.79	131.14	138.81	0.00	104.04
Noxubee County		0.00	19.21	10.12	0.00	46.52	6.89	91.42	2.80	17.28	0.00	16.57

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

Lowndes County		4.83	118.33	37.58	20.49	35.31	23.88	19.67	17.27	64.87	41.55	24.96
Mississippi		42.48	105.56	37.37	96.07	33.98	33.35	13.77	20.66	87.28	51.77	37.07
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Oktibbeha County		21.76	142.78	25.00	73.67	43.75	37.02	14.69	36.53	94.38	16.03	57.82
Monroe County		44.46	195.44	21.71	40.23	28.74	10.14	12.64	23.18	84.30	0.00	22.45
Clay County		5.48	71.75	14.16	36.06	9.43	8.20	7.93	10.54	33.81	6.49	4.83
Pickens County		0.00	53.84	20.04	19.12	13.05	10.96	1.18	2.15	51.25	0.00	12.45
Lamar County		1.87	161.93	87.08	71.46	36.00	26.31	1.62	27.09	121.16	0.00	38.57
Noxubee County		0.00	20.28	3.78	0.00	15.81	2.30	12.59	0.58	15.08	0.00	6.14

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

Lowndes County	57,954	80	150	34	31	51	139	19	42	40	10,030	8,568
Mississippi (in 000's)	2,976	5	4	1	1	7	7	3	3	5	501	517
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
Oktibbeha County	52,582	564	143	11	100	164	461	31	40	221	11,558	5,931
Monroe County	33,738	4	0	0	0	55	0	0	22	2	5,822	7,391
Clay County	18,559	2	14	0	0	0	32	0	14	0	3,670	1,963
Pickens County	18,737	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	43	0	3,332	3,756
Lamar County	13,585	0	0	0	0	0	7	3	2	0	1,979	5,347
Noxubee County	9,931	0	0	1	2	0	2	0	2	0	1,565	569

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Lowndes County	15.89	0.14	0.26	0.06	0.05	0.09	0.24	0.03	0.07	0.07	17.31	14.78
Mississippi	13.85	0.17	0.14	0.04	0.04	0.24	0.25	0.09	0.09	0.15	16.84	17.36
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
Oktibbeha County	13.94	1.07	0.27	0.02	0.19	0.31	0.88	0.06	0.08	0.42	21.98	11.28
Monroe County	14.50	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.16	0.00	0.00	0.07	0.01	17.26	21.91
Clay County	21.82	0.01	0.08	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.17	0.00	0.08	0.00	19.77	10.58
Pickens County	15.35	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.23	0.00	17.78	20.05
Lamar County	20.98	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.05	0.02	0.01	0.00	14.57	39.36
Noxubee County	27.19	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.02	0.00	0.02	0.00	0.02	0.00	15.76	5.73

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

Lowndes County		81.02	190.96	166.45	120.24	36.48	97.89	36.23	78.23	45.35	102.79	85.18
Mississippi		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		762.78	647.05	655.35	1,009.42	231.04	648.27	528.97	386.65	369.54	81.88	85.60
Oktibbeha County		629.53	200.65	59.35	427.51	129.30	357.84	65.16	82.12	276.14	130.55	64.99
Monroe County		6.96	0.00	0.00	0.00	67.58	0.00	0.00	70.39	3.89	102.49	126.22
Clay County		6.32	55.66	0.00	0.00	0.00	70.37	0.00	81.43	0.00	117.44	60.94
Pickens County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	5.90	247.74	0.00	105.61	115.49
Lamar County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	21.03	24.41	15.89	0.00	86.52	226.77
Noxubee County		0.00	0.00	28.57	45.27	0.00	8.22	0.00	21.74	0.00	93.59	33.01

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

Lowndes County		10.62	29.51	25.40	11.91	15.79	15.10	6.85	20.23	12.27	125.54	99.50
Mississippi		13.11	15.45	15.26	9.91	43.28	15.43	18.90	25.86	27.06	122.13	116.82
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Oktibbeha County		82.53	31.01	9.06	42.35	55.97	55.20	12.32	21.24	74.72	159.44	75.92
Monroe County		0.91	0.00	0.00	0.00	29.25	0.00	0.00	18.21	1.05	125.17	147.44
Clay County		0.83	8.60	0.00	0.00	0.00	10.86	0.00	21.06	0.00	143.44	71.19
Pickens County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	1.12	64.07	0.00	128.99	134.92
Lamar County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	3.24	4.61	4.11	0.00	105.67	264.91
Noxubee County		0.00	0.00	4.36	4.48	0.00	1.27	0.00	5.62	0.00	114.31	38.56

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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