CensusScope is a product of the Social Science Data Analysis Network.
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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
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1990 |
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2000 |
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Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Only English |
256,537 |
74.79% |
251,390 |
67.24% |
Spanish |
65,679 |
19.15% |
99,180 |
26.53% |
Other Indo-European* |
11,105 |
3.24% |
11,857 |
3.17% |
Asian Language** |
8,858 |
2.58% |
10,060 |
2.69% |
Other |
831 |
0.24% |
1,375 |
0.37% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
343,010 |
100.00% |
373,862 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
54,041 |
54.49% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,284 |
19.26% |
Asian Language** |
4,776 |
47.48% |
Other Language |
483 |
35.13% |
Total |
61,584 |
16.47% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
36,115 |
54.99% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,363 |
21.28% |
Asian Language** |
4,484 |
50.62% |
Other Language |
316 |
38.03% |
Total |
43,278 |
12.62% |
* "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
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