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 |
3,625,639 |
76.70% |
3,453,547 |
69.19% |
Spanish |
560,298 |
11.85% |
879,996 |
17.63% |
Other Indo-European* |
385,243 |
8.15% |
439,325 |
8.80% |
Asian Language** |
115,453 |
2.44% |
158,034 |
3.17% |
Other |
40,197 |
0.85% |
60,408 |
1.21% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
4,726,830 |
100.00% |
4,991,310 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
471,410 |
53.57% |
Other Indo-European* |
195,391 |
44.48% |
Asian Language** |
75,913 |
48.04% |
Other Language |
19,712 |
32.63% |
Total |
762,426 |
15.28% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
293,748 |
52.43% |
Other Indo-European* |
149,081 |
38.70% |
Asian Language** |
58,252 |
50.46% |
Other Language |
13,410 |
33.36% |
Total |
514,491 |
10.88% |
* "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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