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 |
289,345 |
93.65% |
287,778 |
94.86% |
Spanish |
2,536 |
0.82% |
4,196 |
1.38% |
Other Indo-European* |
15,778 |
5.11% |
10,034 |
3.31% |
Asian Language** |
653 |
0.21% |
758 |
0.25% |
Other |
665 |
0.22% |
592 |
0.20% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
308,977 |
100.00% |
303,358 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,664 |
39.66% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,533 |
25.24% |
Asian Language** |
367 |
48.42% |
Other Language |
159 |
26.86% |
Total |
4,723 |
1.56% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
825 |
32.53% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,940 |
24.97% |
Asian Language** |
280 |
42.88% |
Other Language |
178 |
26.77% |
Total |
5,223 |
1.69% |
* "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
|