Ancestry for Edmunds County, SD - ERSys®
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Edmunds 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:

27.58

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)

Edmunds County4,0141034100710011750
South Dakota (in 000's)930347305258131082
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
Brown County37,4831,4501,1584452181121905611614443
Walworth County5,2312488000152928091300
Potter County2,4001136500180002300
McPherson County2,348402010400002000
Faulk County2,11439430045001100
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Edmunds County27.582.571.020.000.001.770.000.000.020.420.120.00
South Dakota12.273.667.820.050.552.660.830.140.281.040.830.18
National7.834.050.640.183.3011.331.801.351.077.542.292.09
Brown County16.893.873.090.121.392.160.580.000.150.310.380.11
Walworth County17.094.7415.290.000.290.550.540.000.170.250.000.00
Potter County22.204.712.710.000.000.750.000.000.000.960.000.00
McPherson County29.521.700.850.040.001.700.000.000.000.850.000.00
Faulk County26.791.842.030.000.002.130.000.000.050.050.000.00
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Edmunds County 70.1713.050.000.0066.590.000.008.7940.5714.980.00
South Dakota 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 110.678.24344.87598.70426.44217.74958.84379.16722.59275.161,153.35
Brown County 105.7939.49221.85252.1881.4670.640.0052.7429.6446.2163.30
Walworth County 129.65195.460.0052.0220.8764.720.0060.7423.810.000.00
Potter County 128.7634.610.000.0028.240.000.000.0091.800.000.00
McPherson County 46.5910.8980.490.0064.140.000.000.0081.590.000.00
Faulk County 50.4526.000.000.0080.140.000.0016.704.530.000.00
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Edmunds County 63.41158.410.000.0015.620.000.002.325.615.450.00
South Dakota 90.361,213.4529.0016.7023.4545.9310.4326.3713.8436.348.67
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Brown County 95.60479.1364.3342.1219.1032.440.0013.914.1016.795.49
Walworth County 117.162,371.850.008.694.8929.720.0016.023.290.000.00
Potter County 116.35420.030.000.006.620.000.000.0012.700.000.00
McPherson County 42.10132.1023.340.0015.040.000.000.0011.290.000.00
Faulk County 45.59315.460.000.0018.790.000.004.400.630.000.00
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Edmunds County4,0143115329251,9117143612000167
South Dakota (in 000's)93024023102157810256228
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
Brown County37,483751,56740636112,3561812634,0651,8060690
Walworth County5,2311212378561,681183447920011131
Potter County2,400284313183573015699063
McPherson County2,34835331171,158014128910182
Faulk County2,11499615221,004011421300108
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Edmunds County27.580.773.810.720.6247.610.170.358.994.980.004.16
South Dakota12.270.264.292.501.1223.110.700.8311.006.010.193.02
National7.830.395.260.531.067.202.631.361.746.010.332.79
Brown County16.890.204.181.080.9632.960.480.7010.844.820.001.84
Walworth County17.090.232.351.491.0732.140.340.659.163.820.212.50
Potter County22.200.083.501.291.2934.790.291.256.504.130.002.63
McPherson County29.520.132.261.320.7249.320.000.605.453.880.007.75
Faulk County26.790.434.540.711.0447.490.000.056.726.150.005.11
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Edmunds County 296.6188.9228.9255.42205.9624.8542.1481.7882.950.00137.94
South Dakota 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 151.07122.8021.3194.4031.14374.71164.2615.81100.03178.3392.37
Brown County 76.8597.5343.3585.69142.6168.8084.7798.6280.210.0061.03
Walworth County 88.1054.8559.6895.25139.0249.0378.5383.2763.65112.8983.03
Potter County 32.0181.6551.70114.93150.5241.56151.0259.1168.670.0087.03
McPherson County 49.0752.6652.8464.42213.360.0072.0449.5764.520.00256.99
Faulk County 163.51105.9428.4092.60205.460.005.7261.08102.370.00169.38
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Edmunds County 196.3472.41135.6658.70661.396.6325.65517.2182.920.00149.33
South Dakota 66.1981.43469.17105.93321.1226.6960.88632.4499.9756.07108.26
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Brown County 50.8779.42203.3990.78457.9518.3651.61623.6880.190.0066.07
Walworth County 58.3244.67279.99100.90446.4313.0847.81526.6163.6363.3089.88
Potter County 21.1966.49242.54121.74483.3311.0991.94373.8168.650.0094.22
McPherson County 32.4842.88247.9168.24685.150.0043.86313.5164.500.00278.21
Faulk County 108.2386.27133.2498.09659.780.003.48386.30102.340.00183.36
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Edmunds County4,014070300063129730
South Dakota (in 000's)93012111331284170
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
Brown County37,483161167015045404080633,3846,733
Walworth County5,231700000024470783
Potter County2,4000110400100119708
McPherson County2,34800000001088461
Faulk County2,114000000015557345
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Edmunds County27.580.000.170.000.070.000.000.000.150.073.2118.19
South Dakota12.270.150.240.060.120.130.330.310.130.189.0418.24
National7.831.300.880.230.450.561.590.480.360.5613.7914.86
Brown County16.890.430.450.000.400.120.111.090.000.179.0317.96
Walworth County17.090.130.000.000.000.000.000.000.040.088.9814.97
Potter County22.200.000.460.000.170.000.000.040.000.004.9629.50
McPherson County29.520.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.040.003.7519.63
Faulk County26.790.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.052.602.7016.32
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Edmunds County 0.0073.300.0063.060.000.000.00112.0941.5135.5499.72
South Dakota 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 842.70368.66410.66378.88418.89485.80154.31268.57312.42152.4581.47
Brown County 278.51187.280.00337.6690.2432.64350.940.0093.3699.8398.50
Walworth County 86.770.000.000.000.000.000.0028.6742.4799.3582.08
Potter County 0.00192.660.00140.630.000.0013.430.000.0054.83161.76
McPherson County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0031.940.0041.44107.66
Faulk County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0035.471,445.1129.8289.49
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Edmunds County 0.0019.880.0016.640.000.000.0041.7313.2923.31122.40
South Dakota 11.8727.1324.3526.3923.8720.5864.8037.2332.0165.60122.74
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Brown County 33.0550.800.0089.1221.546.72227.420.0029.8865.49120.90
Walworth County 10.300.000.000.000.000.000.0010.6713.6065.17100.74
Potter County 0.0052.260.0037.120.000.008.710.000.0035.97198.55
McPherson County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0011.890.0027.19132.14
Faulk County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.0013.21462.5619.56109.84


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025