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 |
1,377,509 |
81.14% |
1,375,049 |
67.46% |
Spanish |
247,649 |
14.59% |
539,570 |
26.47% |
Other Indo-European* |
30,430 |
1.79% |
46,167 |
2.26% |
Asian Language** |
34,395 |
2.03% |
58,131 |
2.85% |
Other |
7,718 |
0.45% |
19,408 |
0.95% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
1,697,701 |
100.00% |
2,038,325 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
316,065 |
58.58% |
Other Indo-European* |
14,115 |
30.57% |
Asian Language** |
31,347 |
53.92% |
Other Language |
5,716 |
29.45% |
Total |
367,243 |
18.02% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
122,805 |
49.59% |
Other Indo-European* |
8,449 |
27.77% |
Asian Language** |
19,174 |
55.75% |
Other Language |
2,299 |
29.79% |
Total |
152,727 |
9.00% |
* "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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