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 |
274,483 |
95.23% |
318,558 |
94.17% |
Spanish |
4,003 |
1.39% |
8,347 |
2.47% |
Other Indo-European* |
5,123 |
1.78% |
4,913 |
1.45% |
Asian Language** |
4,390 |
1.52% |
5,977 |
1.77% |
Other |
246 |
0.09% |
497 |
0.15% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
288,245 |
100.00% |
338,292 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,880 |
34.50% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,161 |
23.63% |
Asian Language** |
2,904 |
48.59% |
Other Language |
139 |
27.97% |
Total |
7,084 |
2.09% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,447 |
36.15% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,553 |
30.31% |
Asian Language** |
2,227 |
50.73% |
Other Language |
52 |
21.14% |
Total |
5,279 |
1.83% |
* "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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