CensusScope is a product of the Social Science Data Analysis Network.
|
|
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 |
307,463 |
91.82% |
322,041 |
89.64% |
Spanish |
10,735 |
3.21% |
22,692 |
6.32% |
Other Indo-European* |
11,617 |
3.47% |
7,814 |
2.18% |
Asian Language** |
4,710 |
1.41% |
6,082 |
1.69% |
Other |
317 |
0.09% |
618 |
0.17% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
334,842 |
100.00% |
359,247 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
10,358 |
45.65% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,937 |
24.79% |
Asian Language** |
3,250 |
53.44% |
Other Language |
194 |
31.39% |
Total |
15,739 |
4.38% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
4,184 |
38.98% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,300 |
28.41% |
Asian Language** |
2,693 |
57.18% |
Other Language |
44 |
13.88% |
Total |
10,221 |
3.05% |
* "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
|