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 |
339,176 |
73.47% |
315,019 |
64.77% |
Spanish |
58,215 |
12.61% |
92,910 |
19.10% |
Other Indo-European* |
53,853 |
11.66% |
62,128 |
12.77% |
Asian Language** |
7,567 |
1.64% |
10,579 |
2.18% |
Other |
2,854 |
0.62% |
5,719 |
1.18% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
461,665 |
100.00% |
486,355 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
50,069 |
53.89% |
Other Indo-European* |
25,223 |
40.60% |
Asian Language** |
3,973 |
37.56% |
Other Language |
1,623 |
28.38% |
Total |
80,888 |
16.63% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
31,409 |
53.95% |
Other Indo-European* |
22,441 |
41.67% |
Asian Language** |
2,994 |
39.57% |
Other Language |
748 |
26.21% |
Total |
57,592 |
12.47% |
* "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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