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 |
314,650 |
87.44% |
345,971 |
80.16% |
Spanish |
25,049 |
6.96% |
59,480 |
13.78% |
Other Indo-European* |
13,228 |
3.68% |
14,305 |
3.31% |
Asian Language** |
5,579 |
1.55% |
9,535 |
2.21% |
Other |
1,349 |
0.37% |
2,289 |
0.53% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
359,855 |
100.00% |
431,580 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
33,146 |
55.73% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,387 |
23.68% |
Asian Language** |
4,365 |
45.78% |
Other Language |
681 |
29.75% |
Total |
41,579 |
9.63% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
13,095 |
52.28% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,437 |
25.98% |
Asian Language** |
3,017 |
54.08% |
Other Language |
432 |
32.02% |
Total |
19,981 |
5.55% |
* "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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