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 |
245,213 |
84.70% |
276,235 |
74.88% |
Spanish |
33,157 |
11.45% |
77,546 |
21.02% |
Other Indo-European* |
7,897 |
2.73% |
10,015 |
2.71% |
Asian Language** |
2,671 |
0.92% |
3,967 |
1.08% |
Other |
559 |
0.19% |
1,120 |
0.30% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
289,497 |
100.00% |
368,883 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
48,461 |
62.49% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,799 |
27.95% |
Asian Language** |
1,573 |
39.65% |
Other Language |
376 |
33.57% |
Total |
53,209 |
14.42% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
16,585 |
50.02% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,890 |
23.93% |
Asian Language** |
1,609 |
60.24% |
Other Language |
163 |
29.16% |
Total |
20,247 |
6.99% |
* "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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