Demographic differences between Caucasian and Native Americans males and females of Emmet and Cheboygan Counties, Michigan.

Abstract

The study of demography is instrumental in predicting and studying changes in a population over time. This particular study focuses on two populations, the Native Americans and Caucasians living in Cheboygan and Emmet Counties, Michigan. The dates of birth and death of representatives of both populations were gathered from local cemeteries and from county clerk death records. The data were split into three time periods; persons dying between 1850-1899, 1900-1949, and 1950-1999. The data were formulated graphically into survivorship curves and the mean ages of death were calculated. Examination of the data revealed that there were differences in mean age of death and survivorship rates for the various gender and racial categories. In the case of variations found between males and females, most were attributed to different social roles or physiological inequalities. Variations in survivorship rates and mean age of death found between the races were correlated with cultural and socioeconomic differences. The variation in survivorship curves and mean age of death over time were attributed to the historical events in the area and the improvements to quality of life made in recent history.