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 |
860,094 |
61.03% |
849,603 |
58.11% |
Spanish |
337,801 |
23.97% |
364,141 |
24.91% |
Other Indo-European* |
106,220 |
7.54% |
115,836 |
7.92% |
Asian Language** |
87,022 |
6.18% |
108,035 |
7.39% |
Other |
18,106 |
1.28% |
24,400 |
1.67% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
1,409,243 |
100.00% |
1,462,015 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
189,720 |
52.10% |
Other Indo-European* |
30,309 |
26.17% |
Asian Language** |
66,139 |
61.22% |
Other Language |
6,073 |
24.89% |
Total |
292,241 |
19.99% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
181,592 |
53.76% |
Other Indo-European* |
28,493 |
26.82% |
Asian Language** |
56,332 |
64.73% |
Other Language |
4,977 |
27.49% |
Total |
271,394 |
19.26% |
* "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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