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Pike 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:

25.35

Most common ancestry not including "Unknown" is:

American

 
Ancestry Report Part I
DescriptionTotal Population American Native American Hawaiian Carribean Mexican Central American South American Other Hispanic British Dutch French German Italian

Pike County57,70715,180571212032017411294,6332132342,288338
Kentucky (in 000's)4,5986457344105251014417254140858
National (in 000's)340,98116,5892,16560710,91237,9175,6004,1394,87718,3212,0964,23427,00610,025
Wise County36,43311,974439116224376782,9242652581,517387
Floyd County35,4629,6763322812080332,8641421271,302409
Letcher County21,2403,874290894800221,45077127615243
Mingo County22,3862,90626026601361,14212144889233
Buchanan County20,0888,81610154118135109525162678115
Dickenson County14,1345,9561620103008991703235378
Knott County14,1282,226802352615181,034191970551
Martin County11,0773,659473475700172627854313105
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Pike County25.3526.310.100.020.210.550.030.070.228.030.370.413.960.59
Kentucky16.2914.040.160.070.972.280.540.220.319.070.530.898.871.27
National10.644.870.640.183.2011.121.641.211.435.370.611.247.922.94
Wise County19.7532.870.120.020.320.610.100.020.218.030.730.714.161.06
Floyd County26.4627.290.090.010.080.340.020.000.098.080.400.363.671.15
Letcher County27.0118.240.140.000.420.230.000.000.106.830.360.602.901.14
Mingo County38.8012.980.120.000.010.290.000.000.165.100.540.203.971.04
Buchanan County30.6443.890.050.000.270.590.060.020.054.740.250.313.380.57
Dickenson County27.9242.140.110.010.000.730.000.000.067.010.500.232.500.55
Knott County28.7615.760.060.000.160.370.040.110.137.320.130.134.990.36
Martin County24.9633.030.420.030.420.510.000.001.555.660.070.492.830.95
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pike County 187.3962.1229.7021.5324.315.4932.5472.2788.5069.1645.5644.7246.09
Kentucky 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 34.66399.39254.06331.27487.45306.08555.86462.4159.23115.17139.5489.34231.33
Wise County 234.1374.2335.2832.9626.9518.937.5469.2288.47136.2879.5746.9783.58
Floyd County 194.3858.538.068.1714.834.200.0030.0989.0275.0240.2441.4290.75
Letcher County 129.9385.870.0043.389.910.000.0033.4975.2567.9267.1832.6690.02
Mingo County 92.4873.050.000.9212.920.002.0551.9956.23101.2722.0944.8081.89
Buchanan County 312.6431.317.1127.8325.7512.0611.4016.0952.2447.5734.6838.0745.04
Dickenson County 300.1971.2020.210.0031.940.000.0018.3077.2992.7925.4428.1743.42
Knott County 112.2435.610.0016.8516.137.9248.6241.1980.6725.2015.1156.2928.40
Martin County 235.32266.8738.6843.9222.560.000.00502.0162.3913.5354.7831.8774.58
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pike County 540.6915.5611.696.504.991.795.8515.63149.4260.0532.6550.0619.92
Kentucky 288.5325.0439.3630.1920.5232.6717.9921.63168.8586.8371.67111.9343.23
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Wise County 675.5418.5913.899.955.536.181.3614.97149.37118.3357.0252.5736.13
Floyd County 560.8414.653.172.473.041.370.006.51150.3165.1428.8446.3639.23
Letcher County 374.9021.500.0013.092.030.000.007.24127.0658.9848.1536.5638.91
Mingo County 266.8318.290.000.282.650.000.3711.2494.9587.9315.8350.1435.40
Buchanan County 902.087.842.808.405.283.942.053.4888.2041.3024.8542.6219.47
Dickenson County 866.1617.837.960.006.550.000.003.96130.5080.5718.2331.5318.77
Knott County 323.868.920.005.093.312.598.758.91136.2221.8810.8363.0112.28
Martin County 678.9766.8215.2313.264.630.000.00108.56105.3511.7539.2635.6832.24
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Polish Scandi­navian Scotish Irish Other European Chinese Japanese Korean South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Pike County57,707881084,7625031810358112959615,07723,194
Kentucky (in 000's)4,59825314261071036201717147211,397
National (in 000's)340,9815,2116,56222,89210,8864,3408331,7585,3296,0541,4412,14472,84556,198
Wise County36,4331011614,94164011291008256484,6087,836
Floyd County35,462109332,84426282355072792,73314,608
Letcher County21,24015482,029313736251742,5309,678
Mingo County22,38618191,980991011720101,42813,336
Buchanan County20,088263950880873011301,6466,395
Dickenson County14,13428181,0472100011213531,0814,107
Knott County14,12812111,2908824425121,7356,796
Martin County11,077061,038112002084139743,828
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Pike County25.350.150.198.250.870.030.020.060.140.220.100.118.8040.19
Kentucky16.290.530.689.272.340.210.080.130.430.380.370.3115.6930.38
National10.641.531.926.713.191.270.240.521.561.780.420.6321.3616.48
Wise County19.750.280.4413.561.760.030.010.020.270.230.150.1312.6521.51
Floyd County26.460.310.098.020.740.020.060.010.140.020.080.037.7141.19
Letcher County27.010.070.239.551.470.030.010.030.120.000.030.0211.9145.56
Mingo County38.800.080.088.840.440.000.000.000.000.030.090.046.3859.57
Buchanan County30.640.010.314.730.440.000.040.030.010.000.050.158.1931.83
Dickenson County27.920.200.137.411.490.000.000.080.010.090.040.027.6529.06
Knott County28.760.080.089.130.620.010.030.030.010.040.010.0112.2848.10
Martin County24.960.000.059.371.010.000.000.020.000.070.040.128.7934.56
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pike County 28.5227.5689.0537.2815.0022.8545.9232.3759.1327.8233.9856.07132.32
Kentucky 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
National 285.82283.4372.45136.55611.98322.34390.34360.38469.65115.03202.12136.1654.26
Wise County 51.8565.09146.3675.1314.527.2418.7063.3059.5341.8342.3580.6170.80
Floyd County 57.4913.7186.5531.6010.8585.5410.6832.515.2220.728.1649.12135.61
Letcher County 13.2133.28103.0963.0315.8518.6321.3927.141.258.976.0575.92150.00
Mingo County 15.0412.5095.4518.922.150.003.381.038.2724.3114.3640.66196.12
Buchanan County 1.8646.1951.0418.740.0052.5226.393.440.0014.9048.0052.22104.80
Dickenson County 37.0518.7679.9463.550.000.0058.933.2624.339.636.8248.7595.66
Knott County 15.8911.4798.5426.646.8137.3421.443.269.361.934.5578.27158.36
Martin County 0.007.98101.1343.250.000.0013.670.0019.109.8337.7256.04113.77
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Pike County 9.989.73122.9127.302.457.0911.778.9812.5924.1916.8141.18243.87
Kentucky 34.9935.28138.0273.2316.3431.0225.6227.7521.2986.9349.4773.44184.31
National 100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00100.00
Wise County 18.1422.96202.0055.022.372.254.7917.5612.6836.3620.9559.20130.50
Floyd County 20.114.84119.4523.141.7726.542.749.021.1118.014.0436.08249.94
Letcher County 4.6211.74142.2946.162.595.785.487.530.277.802.9955.76276.47
Mingo County 5.264.41131.7413.850.350.000.870.291.7621.137.1029.86361.46
Buchanan County 0.6516.3070.4413.720.0016.296.760.960.0012.9523.7538.36193.16
Dickenson County 12.966.62110.3446.540.000.0015.100.915.188.373.3835.80176.31
Knott County 5.564.05136.0019.511.1111.585.490.911.991.672.2557.48291.87
Martin County 0.002.81139.5831.670.000.003.500.004.078.5418.6641.16209.68


Sources: STI: PopStats