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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)

Traill County	8,064	167	67	4	17	231	0	9	42	52	1	3
North Dakota (in 000's)	802	19	36	1	5	23	2	2	3	12	13	2
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
Cass County	202,694	4,231	2,354	74	863	4,880	313	393	382	4,058	8,614	504
Grand Forks County	74,273	1,182	1,556	47	530	2,477	65	418	264	1,263	1,076	340
Polk County	30,573	654	394	4	106	1,510	53	150	200	286	388	113
Norman County	6,336	81	102	0	34	228	13	2	29	39	2	1
Steele County	1,782	20	9	0	8	16	0	17	0	5	0	0

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Traill County	21.87	2.07	0.83	0.05	0.21	2.86	0.00	0.11	0.52	0.64	0.01	0.04
North Dakota	14.07	2.37	4.51	0.10	0.57	2.87	0.29	0.24	0.38	1.47	1.57	0.22
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
Cass County	13.87	2.09	1.16	0.04	0.43	2.41	0.15	0.19	0.19	2.00	4.25	0.25
Grand Forks County	12.40	1.59	2.09	0.06	0.71	3.33	0.09	0.56	0.36	1.70	1.45	0.46
Polk County	15.37	2.14	1.29	0.01	0.35	4.94	0.17	0.49	0.65	0.94	1.27	0.37
Norman County	22.52	1.28	1.61	0.00	0.54	3.60	0.21	0.03	0.46	0.62	0.03	0.02
Steele County	26.12	1.12	0.51	0.00	0.45	0.90	0.00	0.95	0.00	0.28	0.00	0.00

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

Traill County		87.48	18.40	50.12	36.69	99.88	0.00	45.80	138.42	43.95	0.79	17.12
North Dakota		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		170.93	14.28	184.40	574.32	394.94	615.61	555.25	285.44	514.09	145.30	962.09
Cass County		88.17	25.72	36.89	74.10	83.95	52.79	79.57	50.09	136.44	269.95	114.46
Grand Forks County		67.22	46.40	63.94	124.19	116.29	29.92	230.97	94.46	115.89	92.02	210.72
Polk County		90.36	28.54	13.22	60.34	172.22	59.26	201.35	173.85	63.75	80.61	170.13
Norman County		54.00	35.66	0.00	93.39	125.47	70.14	12.95	121.64	41.95	2.01	7.27
Steele County		47.41	11.19	0.00	78.13	31.31	0.00	391.51	0.00	19.12	0.00	0.00

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

Traill County		51.18	128.86	27.18	6.39	25.29	0.00	8.25	48.49	8.55	0.54	1.78
North Dakota		58.50	700.21	54.23	17.41	25.32	16.24	18.01	35.03	19.45	68.82	10.39
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Cass County		51.58	180.11	20.01	12.90	21.26	8.58	14.33	17.55	26.54	185.78	11.90
Grand Forks County		39.33	324.91	34.68	21.62	29.44	4.86	41.60	33.09	22.54	63.33	21.90
Polk County		52.86	199.87	7.17	10.51	43.61	9.63	36.26	60.91	12.40	55.48	17.68
Norman County		31.59	249.67	0.00	16.26	31.77	11.39	2.33	42.61	8.16	1.38	0.76
Steele County		27.73	78.33	0.00	13.60	7.93	0.00	70.51	0.00	3.72	0.00	0.00

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

Traill County	8,064	62	179	20	106	1,314	19	62	2,987	335	23	161
North Dakota (in 000's)	802	4	23	5	11	195	5	9	150	35	2	25
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
Cass County	202,694	806	5,900	910	3,707	44,834	1,561	2,384	46,070	9,865	598	5,672
Grand Forks County	74,273	547	2,525	303	1,405	12,242	660	1,879	16,612	4,057	151	2,505
Polk County	30,573	269	749	206	998	4,707	176	495	9,268	1,193	26	1,109
Norman County	6,336	16	115	37	92	1,182	22	50	2,526	201	9	126
Steele County	1,782	8	50	2	11	273	4	14	757	58	0	16

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Traill County	21.87	0.77	2.22	0.25	1.31	16.29	0.24	0.77	37.04	4.15	0.29	2.00
North Dakota	14.07	0.47	2.88	0.57	1.38	24.28	0.63	1.17	18.69	4.41	0.30	3.13
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
Cass County	13.87	0.40	2.91	0.45	1.83	22.12	0.77	1.18	22.73	4.87	0.30	2.80
Grand Forks County	12.40	0.74	3.40	0.41	1.89	16.48	0.89	2.53	22.37	5.46	0.20	3.37
Polk County	15.37	0.88	2.45	0.67	3.26	15.40	0.58	1.62	30.31	3.90	0.09	3.63
Norman County	22.52	0.25	1.82	0.58	1.45	18.66	0.35	0.79	39.87	3.17	0.14	1.99
Steele County	26.12	0.45	2.81	0.11	0.62	15.32	0.22	0.79	42.48	3.25	0.00	0.90

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

Traill County		163.71	77.19	43.54	95.21	67.12	37.34	65.72	198.21	94.15	94.91	63.74
North Dakota		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		83.76	183.06	93.50	76.85	29.65	416.76	116.22	9.30	136.18	110.54	88.95
Cass County		84.67	101.23	78.82	132.47	91.11	122.04	100.54	121.62	110.30	98.18	89.34
Grand Forks County		156.82	118.23	71.62	137.02	67.89	140.82	216.25	119.68	123.80	67.65	107.68
Polk County		187.35	85.20	118.29	236.44	63.42	91.23	138.40	162.21	88.44	28.30	115.81
Norman County		53.77	63.12	102.52	105.17	76.84	55.02	67.46	213.33	71.90	47.27	63.49
Steele County		95.59	97.58	19.70	44.71	63.10	35.57	67.16	227.31	73.77	0.00	28.67

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

Traill County		195.47	42.17	46.57	123.89	226.37	8.96	56.55	2,130.21	69.14	85.86	71.66
North Dakota		119.40	54.63	106.96	130.13	337.27	23.99	86.04	1,074.75	73.43	90.46	112.42
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Cass County		101.09	55.30	84.30	172.38	307.28	29.28	86.51	1,307.12	81.00	88.81	100.44
Grand Forks County		187.23	64.58	76.60	178.30	228.98	33.79	186.07	1,286.26	90.91	61.20	121.05
Polk County		223.69	46.54	126.52	307.67	213.88	21.89	119.08	1,743.36	64.94	25.60	130.19
Norman County		64.20	34.48	109.65	136.86	259.16	13.20	58.04	2,292.75	52.80	42.76	71.38
Steele County		114.13	53.30	21.07	58.18	212.83	8.53	57.78	2,443.02	54.17	0.00	32.23

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

Traill County	8,064	0	8	0	15	0	0	1	2	4	404	1,769
North Dakota (in 000's)	802	2	3	0	1	1	4	1	1	2	59	146
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
Cass County	202,694	578	674	54	694	714	2,558	312	845	769	14,738	31,785
Grand Forks County	74,273	587	284	68	437	72	614	46	130	411	6,794	12,726
Polk County	30,573	66	23	0	41	1	22	19	26	102	2,668	4,551
Norman County	6,336	7	4	4	2	1	9	5	1	11	419	966
Steele County	1,782	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	112	402

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Traill County	21.87	0.00	0.10	0.00	0.19	0.00	0.00	0.01	0.02	0.05	5.01	21.94
North Dakota	14.07	0.21	0.36	0.05	0.17	0.13	0.45	0.09	0.19	0.25	7.39	18.21
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
Cass County	13.87	0.29	0.33	0.03	0.34	0.35	1.26	0.15	0.42	0.38	7.27	15.68
Grand Forks County	12.40	0.79	0.38	0.09	0.59	0.10	0.83	0.06	0.18	0.55	9.15	17.13
Polk County	15.37	0.22	0.08	0.00	0.13	0.00	0.07	0.06	0.09	0.33	8.73	14.89
Norman County	22.52	0.11	0.06	0.06	0.03	0.02	0.14	0.08	0.02	0.17	6.61	15.25
Steele County	26.12	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	6.29	22.56

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

Traill County		0.00	27.62	0.00	106.30	0.00	0.00	13.07	13.29	19.98	67.82	120.45
North Dakota		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		628.53	244.15	448.73	256.61	437.07	353.98	504.62	191.96	226.54	186.63	81.58
Cass County		137.91	92.57	51.76	195.66	276.27	281.26	162.29	223.43	152.81	98.43	86.10
Grand Forks County		382.22	106.45	177.86	336.23	76.03	184.24	65.30	93.81	222.88	123.83	94.08
Polk County		104.40	20.94	0.00	76.64	2.57	16.04	65.52	45.58	134.38	118.13	81.73
Norman County		53.43	17.58	122.64	18.04	12.38	31.66	83.20	8.46	69.93	89.52	83.71
Steele County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	85.08	123.86

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

Traill County		0.00	11.31	0.00	41.42	0.00	0.00	2.59	6.92	8.82	36.34	147.64
North Dakota		15.91	40.96	22.29	38.97	22.88	28.25	19.82	52.09	44.14	53.58	122.58
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Cass County		21.94	37.91	11.53	76.25	63.21	79.46	32.16	116.39	67.45	52.74	105.54
Grand Forks County		60.81	43.60	39.64	131.03	17.40	52.05	12.94	48.87	98.38	66.35	115.32
Polk County		16.61	8.58	0.00	29.86	0.59	4.53	12.98	23.74	59.32	63.30	100.19
Norman County		8.50	7.20	27.33	7.03	2.83	8.94	16.49	4.41	30.87	47.97	102.61
Steele County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	45.59	151.83

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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