CensusScope is a product of the Social Science Data Analysis Network.
|
|
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
|
|
1990 |
|
2000 |
|
|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Only English |
304,045 |
96.22% |
339,443 |
94.65% |
Spanish |
4,634 |
1.47% |
10,498 |
2.93% |
Other Indo-European* |
5,939 |
1.88% |
6,134 |
1.71% |
Asian Language** |
1,219 |
0.39% |
2,147 |
0.60% |
Other |
148 |
0.05% |
393 |
0.11% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
315,985 |
100.00% |
358,615 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
4,460 |
42.48% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,776 |
28.95% |
Asian Language** |
1,109 |
51.65% |
Other Language |
113 |
28.75% |
Total |
7,458 |
2.08% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,202 |
47.52% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,732 |
29.16% |
Asian Language** |
609 |
49.96% |
Other Language |
63 |
42.57% |
Total |
4,606 |
1.46% |
* "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
|