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 |
299,510 |
91.31% |
405,351 |
88.03% |
Spanish |
14,199 |
4.33% |
32,352 |
7.03% |
Other Indo-European* |
11,233 |
3.42% |
14,577 |
3.17% |
Asian Language** |
2,467 |
0.75% |
6,456 |
1.40% |
Other |
588 |
0.18% |
1,729 |
0.38% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
327,997 |
100.00% |
460,465 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
14,773 |
45.66% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,830 |
26.27% |
Asian Language** |
2,171 |
33.63% |
Other Language |
352 |
20.36% |
Total |
21,126 |
4.59% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
5,855 |
41.24% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,840 |
25.28% |
Asian Language** |
827 |
33.52% |
Other Language |
129 |
21.94% |
Total |
9,651 |
2.94% |
* "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
|