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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)

Essex County	6,004	387	18	6	45	17	8	9	2	8	1	0
Vermont (in 000's)	652	43	2	0	5	5	1	3	2	4	3	1
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
Grafton County	93,271	4,188	174	27	1,341	640	341	76	277	650	168	158
Caledonia County	30,693	2,241	87	15	212	340	6	44	26	124	49	49
Coos County	31,164	1,838	75	3	146	141	77	39	224	348	22	19
Orleans County	27,712	2,349	166	2	157	207	18	64	38	55	73	51

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Essex County	13.02	6.45	0.30	0.10	0.75	0.28	0.13	0.15	0.03	0.13	0.02	0.00
Vermont	10.19	6.60	0.28	0.02	0.84	0.72	0.17	0.44	0.29	0.61	0.42	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
Grafton County	10.14	4.49	0.19	0.03	1.44	0.69	0.37	0.08	0.30	0.70	0.18	0.17
Caledonia County	12.60	7.30	0.28	0.05	0.69	1.11	0.02	0.14	0.08	0.40	0.16	0.16
Coos County	11.48	5.90	0.24	0.01	0.47	0.45	0.25	0.13	0.72	1.12	0.07	0.06
Orleans County	11.53	8.48	0.60	0.01	0.57	0.75	0.06	0.23	0.14	0.20	0.26	0.18

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

Essex County		97.63	108.20	404.58	89.74	39.46	77.54	33.76	11.62	21.71	3.98	0.00
Vermont		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		61.29	232.71	738.79	395.10	1,578.53	1,048.02	304.72	374.58	1,229.24	545.97	932.47
Grafton County		68.01	67.33	117.20	172.14	95.63	212.77	18.35	103.57	113.56	42.99	75.58
Caledonia County		110.59	102.30	197.85	82.70	154.38	11.38	32.29	29.54	65.83	38.10	71.22
Coos County		89.33	86.86	38.97	56.09	63.05	143.79	28.19	250.67	181.96	16.85	27.20
Orleans County		128.38	216.19	29.22	67.83	104.10	37.80	52.02	47.82	32.34	62.87	82.11

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

Essex County		159.28	46.50	54.76	22.71	2.50	7.40	11.08	3.10	1.77	0.73	0.00
Vermont		163.16	42.97	13.54	25.31	6.34	9.54	32.82	26.70	8.14	18.32	10.72
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Grafton County		110.96	28.93	15.86	43.57	6.06	20.30	6.02	27.65	9.24	7.87	8.10
Caledonia County		180.43	43.96	26.78	20.93	9.78	1.09	10.60	7.89	5.36	6.98	7.64
Coos County		145.75	37.32	5.28	14.20	3.99	13.72	9.25	66.92	14.80	3.09	2.92
Orleans County		209.47	92.90	3.95	17.17	6.59	3.61	17.07	12.77	2.63	11.52	8.81

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

Essex County	6,004	555	880	25	770	207	140	55	97	796	0	75
Vermont (in 000's)	652	38	85	4	42	39	28	13	14	85	2	26
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
Grafton County	93,271	4,541	13,091	585	6,251	5,560	3,728	1,875	2,148	12,564	362	3,707
Caledonia County	30,693	1,975	4,135	145	2,189	1,267	861	430	613	4,283	49	902
Coos County	31,164	3,494	3,408	91	4,313	1,084	1,088	379	548	3,675	27	448
Orleans County	27,712	3,335	3,276	173	2,204	1,173	664	329	562	2,952	24	607

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Essex County	13.02	9.24	14.66	0.42	12.82	3.45	2.33	0.92	1.62	13.26	0.00	1.25
Vermont	10.19	5.76	13.03	0.68	6.52	6.03	4.34	2.05	2.22	13.04	0.31	3.96
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
Grafton County	10.14	4.87	14.04	0.63	6.70	5.96	4.00	2.01	2.30	13.47	0.39	3.97
Caledonia County	12.60	6.43	13.47	0.47	7.13	4.13	2.81	1.40	2.00	13.95	0.16	2.94
Coos County	11.48	11.21	10.94	0.29	13.84	3.48	3.49	1.22	1.76	11.79	0.09	1.44
Orleans County	11.53	12.03	11.82	0.62	7.95	4.23	2.40	1.19	2.03	10.65	0.09	2.19

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

Essex County		160.61	112.52	61.10	196.74	57.17	53.69	44.68	72.72	101.67	0.00	31.54
Vermont		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		6.83	40.41	78.15	16.28	119.37	60.56	66.31	78.27	46.08	106.24	70.36
Grafton County		84.59	107.75	92.03	102.81	98.86	92.04	98.05	103.66	103.30	124.13	100.36
Caledonia County		111.80	103.43	69.32	109.41	68.46	64.60	68.33	89.90	107.01	51.06	74.21
Coos County		194.80	83.95	42.85	212.30	57.68	80.39	59.32	79.15	90.43	27.71	36.30
Orleans County		209.09	90.75	91.61	122.00	70.19	55.17	57.90	91.28	81.69	27.70	55.31

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

Essex County		2,350.07	278.43	78.19	1,208.78	47.90	88.66	67.38	92.91	220.65	0.00	44.84
Vermont		1,463.23	247.45	127.97	614.42	83.77	165.12	150.80	127.77	217.03	94.12	142.13
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Grafton County		1,237.75	266.63	117.77	631.68	82.81	151.98	147.86	132.44	224.18	116.84	142.65
Caledonia County		1,635.90	255.93	88.71	672.21	57.35	106.66	103.04	114.86	232.24	48.06	105.48
Coos County		2,850.35	207.74	54.83	1,304.44	48.32	132.75	89.45	101.13	196.26	26.08	51.60
Orleans County		3,059.54	224.57	117.22	749.62	58.80	91.11	87.32	116.63	177.28	26.07	78.62

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

Essex County	6,004	20	0	4	0	1	4	5	1	4	478	1,386
Vermont (in 000's)	652	3	1	0	1	1	3	1	1	3	64	127
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
Grafton County	93,271	1,035	220	110	276	196	869	221	153	530	9,530	17,679
Caledonia County	30,693	53	99	20	6	0	17	2	27	129	2,641	7,657
Coos County	31,164	16	11	20	20	6	41	9	18	24	3,389	6,123
Orleans County	27,712	61	11	3	28	0	26	1	15	20	3,166	5,902

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Essex County	13.02	0.33	0.00	0.07	0.00	0.02	0.07	0.08	0.02	0.07	7.96	23.08
Vermont	10.19	0.39	0.16	0.06	0.15	0.14	0.51	0.19	0.11	0.41	9.82	19.50
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
Grafton County	10.14	1.11	0.24	0.12	0.30	0.21	0.93	0.24	0.16	0.57	10.22	18.95
Caledonia County	12.60	0.17	0.32	0.07	0.02	0.00	0.06	0.01	0.09	0.42	8.60	24.95
Coos County	11.48	0.05	0.04	0.06	0.06	0.02	0.13	0.03	0.06	0.08	10.87	19.65
Orleans County	11.53	0.22	0.04	0.01	0.10	0.00	0.09	0.00	0.05	0.07	11.42	21.30

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

Essex County		86.09	0.00	111.35	0.00	12.20	12.98	44.10	14.69	16.13	81.04	118.40
Vermont		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		335.89	536.25	386.05	306.80	408.14	309.41	253.43	315.91	136.19	140.33	76.20
Grafton County		286.79	144.22	197.11	202.18	153.90	181.50	125.46	144.68	137.59	104.00	97.21
Caledonia County		44.63	197.22	108.90	13.36	0.00	10.79	3.45	77.59	101.76	87.58	127.95
Coos County		13.27	21.58	107.26	43.85	14.10	25.63	15.29	50.94	18.65	110.69	100.77
Orleans County		56.89	24.27	18.09	69.03	0.00	18.28	1.91	47.74	17.47	116.29	109.23

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

Essex County		25.63	0.00	28.84	0.00	2.99	4.19	17.40	4.65	11.84	57.75	155.37
Vermont		29.77	18.65	25.90	32.59	24.50	32.32	39.46	31.65	73.43	71.26	131.23
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Grafton County		85.38	26.89	51.06	65.90	37.71	58.66	49.50	45.80	101.03	74.11	127.57
Caledonia County		13.29	36.78	28.21	4.35	0.00	3.49	1.36	24.56	74.72	62.41	167.90
Coos County		3.95	4.02	27.78	14.29	3.45	8.28	6.03	16.13	13.69	78.88	132.24
Orleans County		16.94	4.53	4.69	22.50	0.00	5.91	0.75	15.11	12.83	82.87	143.34

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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