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 |
282,354 |
89.89% |
306,373 |
87.33% |
Spanish |
13,275 |
4.23% |
28,387 |
8.09% |
Other Indo-European* |
17,056 |
5.43% |
13,117 |
3.74% |
Asian Language** |
1,142 |
0.36% |
2,437 |
0.69% |
Other |
298 |
0.09% |
501 |
0.14% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
314,125 |
100.00% |
350,815 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
12,729 |
44.84% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,495 |
26.64% |
Asian Language** |
1,300 |
53.34% |
Other Language |
142 |
28.34% |
Total |
17,666 |
5.04% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
6,810 |
51.30% |
Other Indo-European* |
4,999 |
29.31% |
Asian Language** |
530 |
46.41% |
Other Language |
83 |
27.85% |
Total |
12,422 |
3.95% |
* "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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