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 |
363,149 |
77.16% |
395,282 |
78.93% |
Spanish |
8,113 |
1.72% |
14,244 |
2.84% |
Other Indo-European* |
95,794 |
20.35% |
84,820 |
16.94% |
Asian Language** |
2,376 |
0.50% |
4,663 |
0.93% |
Other |
1,210 |
0.26% |
1,797 |
0.36% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
470,642 |
100.00% |
500,806 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
6,496 |
45.61% |
Other Indo-European* |
33,275 |
39.23% |
Asian Language** |
2,349 |
50.38% |
Other Language |
441 |
24.54% |
Total |
42,561 |
8.50% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
4,045 |
49.86% |
Other Indo-European* |
39,252 |
40.98% |
Asian Language** |
1,324 |
55.72% |
Other Language |
367 |
30.33% |
Total |
44,988 |
9.56% |
* "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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