CensusScope is a product of the Social Science Data Analysis Network.
Fresno, CA |
Print-Friendly Version |
LANGUAGE
The Census asks questions about language use at home to locate groups of people who speak a language other than English. Their isolation or integration into a primarily English speaking community can be determined by their ability to speak English proficiently.
| Language Spoken at Home, 1990-2000 | ||||
| 1990 | 2000 | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Only English | 448,314 | 65.35% | 505,184 | 59.70% |
| Spanish | 177,248 | 25.84% | 268,412 | 31.72% |
| Other Indo-European* | 20,818 | 3.03% | 21,870 | 2.58% |
| Asian Language** | 37,267 | 5.43% | 46,144 | 5.45% |
| Other | 2,371 | 0.35% | 4,534 | 0.54% |
| Total Population Age 5+ | 686,018 | 100.00% | 846,144 | 100.00% |
| Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000 | ||
| Language Spoken at Home: | Number | Percent |
| Spanish | 136,098 | 50.70% |
| Other Indo-European* | 8,178 | 37.39% |
| Asian Language** | 27,454 | 59.50% |
| Other Language | 1,985 | 43.78% |
| Total | 173,715 | 20.53% |
| Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990 | ||
| Language Spoken at Home: | Number | Percent |
| Spanish | 86,953 | 49.06% |
| Other Indo-European* | 6,427 | 30.87% |
| Asian Language** | 26,962 | 72.35% |
| Other Language | 1,116 | 47.07% |
| Total | 121,458 | 17.70% |
* "Other Indo-European" excludes English and Spanish. "Indo-European" is not synonymous with "European." French, German, Hindi, and Persian are all classified as Indo-European. Hungarian, on the other hand, is lumped into "Other Language."
** "Asian Language" includes languages indigenous to Asia and Pacific islands areas that are not also Indo-European languages. Chinese, Japanese, Telugu, and Hawaiian are all classified here.
Also note that ability to speak English "very well" is based on the self-assessment of those responding to Census questions, not on a test of language ability.
Source: Census 2000 analyzed by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN).
Home | About | Help | Contact | Use Policy