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 |
369,751 |
89.02% |
370,259 |
87.01% |
Spanish |
21,265 |
5.12% |
29,285 |
6.88% |
Other Indo-European* |
16,612 |
4.00% |
13,543 |
3.18% |
Asian Language** |
6,964 |
1.68% |
10,439 |
2.45% |
Other |
758 |
0.18% |
2,003 |
0.47% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
415,350 |
100.00% |
425,529 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
11,193 |
38.22% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,605 |
26.62% |
Asian Language** |
5,457 |
52.28% |
Other Language |
629 |
31.40% |
Total |
20,884 |
4.91% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
8,541 |
40.16% |
Other Indo-European* |
4,928 |
29.67% |
Asian Language** |
3,612 |
51.87% |
Other Language |
221 |
29.16% |
Total |
17,302 |
4.17% |
* "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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