A truly captivating map that shows the ancestry of everyone of the 317 million people who call the melting pot of America home can now be seen on a U.S. Census Bureau map.
For decades, the United States opened its doors and welcomed with open arms millions of immigrants who all arrived through New York’s Ellis Island in the hope of a better life in America.
Indeed, the inscription on the Statue of Liberty in New York’s harbor reads ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free’ and the fascinating map identifies the truly diverse nature of the United States in the 21st century.
Of interest is there is a stark border in the tri-state with Ohio River being the dividing line between people who identify themselves as “German” and those who identify themselves as “American”.
The CCO says, “[o]f interest is there is a stark border in the tri-state with Ohio River being the dividing line between people who identify themselves as ‘German’ and those who identify themselves as ‘American.'”
You’ll also notice there is no “Scots-Irish” category provided to reflect the huge population of “Americans” of Scots-Irish heritage who settled the southern Appalachian and trans-Appalachian regions south of the Ohio River.
This group does not fall under “English” or “Irish” categories. So, they are totally left off this map except for the generic categorization of “American.”
Bill, good observation. The data used to make the map came from the 2000 census. I don’t remember how the question was posed. I do remember growing up in Sturgis and my family name of Wallace is indeed of Scottish origin. I do not recall any ethnic festival of any kind at all anywhere in Western Kentucky. American is what I was raised and it is still my answer when quizzed on who I am. Now if one starts a conversation I can speak to roots in Scottish, Cherokee, Jewish, French, English, and a smattering of other bloods. Mutt is really the best description. We need a Muttfest for folks like myself.
Yes, you come from an area with a huge Scots-Irish heritage, as does my wife’s family. Her cousin has done the “family tree” which consists of almost exclusively Scots-Irish pioneers who either got their original land grants in Western Kentucky directly from Gen. Geo. Washington or the Commonwealth of Virginia for their service in the Revolutionary War. Her father’s name (Arnold) is derived from Arnholt or alternatively Arnhold, designating the person charged with caring for castle armory in Scotland, and with her last ancestor to practice the trade having been the caretaker of the cannon at Hartfort, KY.
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