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 |
322,213 |
72.57% |
365,331 |
70.48% |
Spanish |
102,919 |
23.18% |
128,162 |
24.72% |
Other Indo-European* |
7,675 |
1.73% |
8,699 |
1.68% |
Asian Language** |
4,134 |
0.93% |
6,407 |
1.24% |
Other |
7,048 |
1.59% |
9,782 |
1.89% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
443,989 |
100.00% |
518,381 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
41,187 |
32.14% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,813 |
20.84% |
Asian Language** |
3,007 |
46.93% |
Other Language |
1,956 |
20.00% |
Total |
47,963 |
9.25% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
31,166 |
30.28% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,933 |
25.19% |
Asian Language** |
2,112 |
51.09% |
Other Language |
1,542 |
21.88% |
Total |
36,753 |
8.28% |
* "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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