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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
DescriptionTotal Population American Native American Hawaiian Caribbean (Latino) Mexican Central American South American Other Hispanic African American Sub- Saharan Caribbean (Black)

Todd County9,13787,8020014310741035
South Dakota (in 000's)930347305258131082
National (in 000's)343,25113,8902,21362611,32738,8796,1814,6443,68725,8937,8527,174
Cherry County5,43135026901111302753101
Tripp County5,749247857015811022221
Bennett County3,286341,86803873003222
Jackson County2,725281,4753035003250
Mellette County1,870321,1050019003300
Keya Paha County7933310025000000
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Todd County73.660.0985.390.000.001.570.010.000.810.110.030.05
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
Cherry County13.736.444.950.000.202.080.000.500.090.570.000.02
Tripp County14.364.3014.910.000.021.010.190.000.030.380.030.02
Bennett County37.341.0356.850.001.162.220.000.000.090.060.060.06
Jackson County33.331.0354.130.110.001.280.000.000.110.070.180.00
Mellette County41.031.7159.090.000.001.020.000.000.160.160.000.00
Keya Paha County21.924.160.130.000.003.150.000.000.000.000.000.00
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Todd County 2.391,091.340.000.0058.921.320.00285.9010.483.9530.20
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
Cherry County 176.2463.300.0036.7578.330.00352.3332.5054.680.0010.16
Tripp County 117.50190.520.003.1637.9823.140.0012.2836.664.189.60
Bennett County 28.30726.550.00209.8183.640.000.0032.235.837.3233.59
Jackson County 28.10691.81208.060.0048.360.000.0038.867.0322.070.00
Mellette County 46.80755.230.000.0038.250.000.0056.6315.370.000.00
Keya Paha County 113.801.610.000.00118.690.000.000.000.000.000.00
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Todd County 2.1613,242.940.000.0013.820.610.0075.401.451.442.62
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
Cherry County 159.25768.170.006.1418.370.0036.758.577.570.000.88
Tripp County 106.172,311.910.000.538.9110.630.003.245.071.520.83
Bennett County 25.578,816.400.0035.0419.610.000.008.500.812.662.91
Jackson County 25.398,394.7560.330.0011.340.000.0010.250.978.020.00
Mellette County 42.299,164.370.000.008.970.000.0014.942.130.000.00
Keya Paha County 102.8419.560.000.0027.830.000.000.000.000.000.00
 
Ancestry Report Part II
DescriptionTotal Population Canadian British Dutch French German Italian Polish Scandi­navian Scotish/ Irish Spanish Other European

Todd County9,137073105800514212
South Dakota (in 000's)93024023102157810256228
National (in 000's)343,2511,35018,0691,8283,64224,7089,0274,6675,96920,6251,1409,563
Cherry County5,431054653941,147516822745418138
Tripp County5,7491324588561,52832123793320281
Bennett County3,28606636181045058038
Jackson County2,7252692444211135387816
Mellette County1,8700253894001822020
Keya Paha County793145104277014486021
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Todd County73.660.000.080.030.110.630.000.000.050.150.020.13
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
Cherry County13.730.0010.050.981.7321.120.941.254.188.360.332.54
Tripp County14.360.234.261.530.9726.580.560.216.595.770.004.89
Bennett County37.340.002.010.090.185.510.000.121.521.770.001.16
Jackson County33.330.072.530.881.617.740.040.111.943.190.290.59
Mellette County41.030.001.340.160.435.030.000.000.961.180.001.07
Keya Paha County21.920.135.671.260.5034.930.000.135.5510.840.002.65
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Todd County 0.001.791.319.742.750.000.000.502.5511.754.35
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
Cherry County 0.00234.5339.06154.0091.37133.80151.2738.01139.16177.9384.24
Tripp County 86.8599.4261.2686.67114.9879.3125.2259.9596.140.00162.05
Bennett County 0.0046.863.6516.2523.830.0014.7113.8429.380.0038.34
Jackson County 28.1959.0735.25143.6733.505.2313.3017.6953.15157.6119.47
Mellette County 0.0031.196.4238.0721.750.000.008.7519.590.0035.46
Keya Paha County 48.43132.3850.4744.88151.120.0015.2450.45180.540.0087.80
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Todd County 0.001.466.1710.328.820.000.003.152.556.594.71
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
Cherry County 0.00190.98183.25163.13293.4035.7192.09240.37139.1299.7791.20
Tripp County 57.4980.96287.4391.81369.2421.1615.35379.1396.110.00175.43
Bennett County 0.0038.1617.1417.2176.520.008.9587.5129.380.0041.51
Jackson County 18.6648.10165.38152.19107.571.408.10111.8553.1388.3821.07
Mellette County 0.0025.4030.1240.3269.830.000.0055.3619.580.0038.39
Keya Paha County 32.06107.80236.7947.54485.260.009.28319.09180.490.0095.05
 
Ancestry Report Part III
DescriptionTotal Population Chinese Filipino Japanese Korean Vietnamese South Central Asian South East Asian Other Asian Middle Eastern Other Ancestry Unknown

Todd County9,137011951001916076159
South Dakota (in 000's)93012111331284170
National (in 000's)343,2514,4613,0107931,5411,9135,4521,6431,2291,93147,32251,000
Cherry County5,43100013002084861,301
Tripp County5,7490290000221830718
Bennett County3,2862260000000684146
Jackson County2,725000000130431221
Mellette County1,87000010000044374
Keya Paha County79300000000029216
 
Per Cent to Total PopulationDiversity
Index
 

Todd County73.660.001.300.050.010.000.000.210.180.008.330.65
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
Cherry County13.730.000.000.000.020.550.000.040.000.158.9523.96
Tripp County14.360.000.500.000.000.000.000.030.030.0214.4412.49
Bennett County37.340.060.790.000.000.000.000.000.000.0020.824.44
Jackson County33.330.000.000.000.000.000.000.040.110.0015.828.11
Mellette County41.030.000.000.000.050.000.000.000.000.0023.693.96
Keya Paha County21.920.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.003.6627.24
 
Comparisons to State Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Todd County 0.00547.4697.299.230.000.0067.04131.310.0092.103.54
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
Cherry County 0.000.000.0015.54415.210.0011.870.0081.8298.95131.35
Tripp County 0.00212.040.000.000.000.0011.2226.099.66159.6568.48
Bennett County 39.46332.600.000.000.000.000.000.000.00230.1824.36
Jackson County 0.000.000.000.000.000.0011.8382.550.00174.9044.47
Mellette County 0.000.000.0045.120.000.000.000.000.00261.9621.70
Keya Paha County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.0040.44149.36
 
Comparisons to National Norms % to Total >= 150% % to Total < 50% 

Todd County 0.00148.5023.692.440.000.0043.4548.890.0060.414.35
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
Cherry County 0.000.000.004.1099.120.007.690.0026.1964.91161.23
Tripp County 0.0057.520.000.000.000.007.279.713.09104.7284.06
Bennett County 4.6890.220.000.000.000.000.000.000.00150.9929.90
Jackson County 0.000.000.000.000.000.007.6730.740.00114.7354.58
Mellette County 0.000.000.0011.910.000.000.000.000.00171.8326.63
Keya Paha County 0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.0026.53183.32


Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025

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