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 |
227,521 |
91.92% |
225,310 |
93.00% |
Spanish |
4,802 |
1.94% |
6,415 |
2.65% |
Other Indo-European* |
13,253 |
5.35% |
8,719 |
3.60% |
Asian Language** |
561 |
0.23% |
667 |
0.28% |
Other |
1,372 |
0.55% |
1,156 |
0.48% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
247,509 |
100.00% |
242,267 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,329 |
36.31% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,675 |
30.68% |
Asian Language** |
302 |
45.28% |
Other Language |
330 |
28.55% |
Total |
5,636 |
2.33% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,565 |
32.59% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,913 |
29.53% |
Asian Language** |
230 |
41.00% |
Other Language |
435 |
31.71% |
Total |
6,143 |
2.48% |
* "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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