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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)

Florence County	4,658	182	27	4	8	31	0	5	3	13	1	2
Wisconsin (in 000's)	6,000	169	47	2	78	317	21	21	17	237	71	54
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
Marinette County	42,562	2,283	160	7	334	714	14	19	39	141	34	16
Dickinson County	25,947	741	121	5	14	269	30	103	41	112	13	10
Iron County	11,657	717	83	0	45	128	1	9	39	57	3	3
Forest County	9,398	393	1,238	9	31	133	1	3	8	24	5	5

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Florence County	12.45	3.91	0.58	0.09	0.17	0.67	0.00	0.11	0.06	0.28	0.02	0.04
Wisconsin	11.41	2.81	0.78	0.03	1.31	5.28	0.34	0.36	0.28	3.95	1.18	0.91
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
Marinette County	14.34	5.36	0.38	0.02	0.78	1.68	0.03	0.04	0.09	0.33	0.08	0.04
Dickinson County	10.63	2.86	0.47	0.02	0.05	1.04	0.12	0.40	0.16	0.43	0.05	0.04
Iron County	10.48	6.15	0.71	0.00	0.39	1.10	0.01	0.08	0.33	0.49	0.03	0.03
Forest County	12.88	4.18	13.17	0.10	0.33	1.42	0.01	0.03	0.09	0.26	0.05	0.05

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

Florence County		139.05	73.85	276.73	13.14	12.60	0.00	30.00	22.76	7.07	1.83	4.74
Wisconsin		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		144.01	82.15	588.06	252.41	214.40	524.49	378.17	379.65	191.21	194.46	230.61
Marinette County		190.88	47.89	53.00	60.02	31.75	9.58	12.48	32.39	8.40	6.79	4.15
Dickinson County		101.63	59.41	62.10	4.13	19.62	33.67	110.96	55.85	10.94	4.26	4.25
Iron County		218.89	90.71	0.00	29.53	20.78	2.50	21.58	118.26	12.39	2.19	2.84
Forest County		148.81	1,678.30	308.61	25.23	26.79	3.10	8.92	30.09	6.47	4.52	5.87

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

Florence County		96.55	89.90	47.06	5.20	5.88	0.00	7.93	6.00	3.70	0.94	2.05
Wisconsin		69.44	121.73	17.00	39.62	46.64	19.07	26.44	26.34	52.30	51.42	43.36
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Marinette County		132.55	58.30	9.01	23.78	14.81	1.83	3.30	8.53	4.39	3.49	1.80
Dickinson County		70.57	72.32	10.56	1.64	9.15	6.42	29.34	14.71	5.72	2.19	1.84
Iron County		152.00	110.43	0.00	11.70	9.69	0.48	5.71	31.15	6.48	1.13	1.23
Forest County		103.34	2,042.99	52.48	10.00	12.49	0.59	2.36	7.93	3.39	2.33	2.55

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

Florence County	4,658	85	270	88	244	952	204	253	524	349	0	218
Wisconsin (in 000's)	6,000	29	230	73	110	1,496	113	273	398	364	10	204
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
Marinette County	42,562	744	1,427	546	1,952	10,717	846	3,587	2,838	1,908	9	1,625
Dickinson County	25,947	802	2,012	302	1,620	3,491	2,371	1,169	3,309	1,401	66	849
Iron County	11,657	157	659	67	408	1,490	1,095	919	1,956	624	4	410
Forest County	9,398	87	348	103	190	1,906	83	559	311	530	8	304

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Florence County	12.45	1.82	5.80	1.89	5.24	20.44	4.38	5.43	11.25	7.49	0.00	4.68
Wisconsin	11.41	0.48	3.83	1.22	1.84	24.93	1.88	4.55	6.63	6.07	0.16	3.40
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
Marinette County	14.34	1.75	3.35	1.28	4.59	25.18	1.99	8.43	6.67	4.48	0.02	3.82
Dickinson County	10.63	3.09	7.75	1.16	6.24	13.45	9.14	4.51	12.75	5.40	0.25	3.27
Iron County	10.48	1.35	5.65	0.57	3.50	12.78	9.39	7.88	16.78	5.35	0.03	3.52
Forest County	12.88	0.93	3.70	1.10	2.02	20.28	0.88	5.95	3.31	5.64	0.09	3.23

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

Florence County		377.18	151.45	155.35	285.25	81.97	232.61	119.26	169.75	123.42	0.00	137.83
Wisconsin		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		81.30	137.54	43.79	57.77	28.87	139.68	29.85	26.24	98.98	207.57	82.05
Marinette County		361.31	87.60	105.49	249.74	100.98	105.57	185.05	100.62	73.85	13.21	112.44
Dickinson County		638.88	202.60	95.71	339.99	53.96	485.33	98.92	192.44	88.95	158.94	96.36
Iron County		278.38	147.71	47.26	190.59	51.26	498.91	173.10	253.21	88.18	21.44	103.58
Forest County		191.34	96.75	90.12	110.09	81.34	46.91	130.60	49.94	92.90	53.19	95.26

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

Florence County		463.92	110.11	354.75	493.73	283.93	166.53	399.49	646.95	124.69	0.00	167.98
Wisconsin		123.00	72.71	228.35	173.09	346.39	71.59	334.98	381.11	101.03	48.18	121.88
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Marinette County		444.40	63.69	240.88	432.27	349.80	75.58	619.87	383.47	74.61	6.37	137.03
Dickinson County		785.81	147.31	218.55	588.47	186.91	347.45	331.37	733.41	89.86	76.57	117.44
Iron County		342.41	107.39	107.93	329.89	177.57	357.17	579.85	964.99	89.09	10.33	126.24
Forest County		235.35	70.34	205.80	190.55	281.75	33.58	437.49	190.31	93.86	25.63	116.10

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

Florence County	4,658	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	176	1,016
Wisconsin (in 000's)	6,000	25	14	3	8	7	40	22	56	15	543	935
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
Marinette County	42,562	39	37	17	13	3	7	8	55	97	2,388	9,938
Dickinson County	25,947	21	32	11	6	0	49	8	10	82	1,564	5,313
Iron County	11,657	32	10	0	5	0	0	5	3	9	760	1,959
Forest County	9,398	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	3	6	1,191	1,911

Per Cent to Total Population	Diversity Index

Florence County	12.45	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.04	0.02	3.78	21.81
Wisconsin	11.41	0.41	0.23	0.05	0.14	0.12	0.66	0.37	0.93	0.24	9.06	15.57
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
Marinette County	14.34	0.09	0.09	0.04	0.03	0.01	0.02	0.02	0.13	0.23	5.61	23.35
Dickinson County	10.63	0.08	0.12	0.04	0.02	0.00	0.19	0.03	0.04	0.32	6.03	20.48
Iron County	10.48	0.27	0.09	0.00	0.04	0.00	0.00	0.04	0.03	0.08	6.52	16.81
Forest County	12.88	0.01	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.07	0.03	0.06	12.67	20.33

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

Florence County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	4.60	8.77	41.72	140.05
Wisconsin		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		316.58	388.26	493.06	323.62	483.08	239.59	128.02	38.39	229.65	152.21	95.40
Marinette County		22.32	38.48	85.26	22.01	6.11	2.48	5.03	13.85	93.05	61.94	149.92
Dickinson County		19.71	54.60	90.49	16.67	0.00	28.49	8.25	4.13	129.03	66.55	131.48
Iron County		66.87	37.98	0.00	30.91	0.00	0.00	11.47	2.76	31.52	71.98	107.90
Forest County		2.59	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	19.92	3.42	26.07	139.91	130.56

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

Florence County		0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	11.99	3.82	27.41	146.80
Wisconsin		31.59	25.76	20.28	30.90	20.70	41.74	78.11	260.46	43.54	65.70	104.82
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Marinette County		7.05	9.91	17.29	6.80	1.26	1.04	3.93	36.08	40.52	40.70	157.15
Dickinson County		6.23	14.06	18.35	5.15	0.00	11.89	6.44	10.76	56.19	43.72	137.81
Iron County		21.12	9.78	0.00	9.55	0.00	0.00	8.96	7.19	13.73	47.29	113.11
Forest County		0.82	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	15.56	8.91	11.35	91.92	136.86

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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