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 |
635,261 |
93.54% |
562,065 |
92.24% |
Spanish |
12,127 |
1.79% |
17,805 |
2.92% |
Other Indo-European* |
23,602 |
3.48% |
17,985 |
2.95% |
Asian Language** |
5,041 |
0.74% |
6,543 |
1.07% |
Other |
3,104 |
0.46% |
4,947 |
0.81% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
679,135 |
100.00% |
609,345 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
7,100 |
39.88% |
Other Indo-European* |
6,307 |
35.07% |
Asian Language** |
3,522 |
53.83% |
Other Language |
1,184 |
23.93% |
Total |
18,113 |
2.97% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
4,503 |
37.13% |
Other Indo-European* |
7,781 |
32.97% |
Asian Language** |
2,681 |
53.18% |
Other Language |
651 |
20.97% |
Total |
15,616 |
2.30% |
* "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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