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 |
278,708 |
66.32% |
263,028 |
58.10% |
Spanish |
84,339 |
20.07% |
127,055 |
28.06% |
Other Indo-European* |
43,834 |
10.43% |
42,968 |
9.49% |
Asian Language** |
5,767 |
1.37% |
9,332 |
2.06% |
Other |
7,602 |
1.81% |
10,360 |
2.29% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
420,250 |
100.00% |
452,743 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
69,222 |
54.48% |
Other Indo-European* |
18,512 |
43.08% |
Asian Language** |
3,985 |
42.70% |
Other Language |
3,730 |
36.00% |
Total |
95,449 |
21.08% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
46,687 |
55.36% |
Other Indo-European* |
17,877 |
40.78% |
Asian Language** |
2,455 |
42.57% |
Other Language |
2,969 |
39.06% |
Total |
69,988 |
16.65% |
* "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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