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 |
626,826 |
57.69% |
729,268 |
56.81% |
Spanish |
432,578 |
39.82% |
517,887 |
40.35% |
Other Indo-European* |
16,352 |
1.51% |
18,515 |
1.44% |
Asian Language** |
9,440 |
0.87% |
14,861 |
1.16% |
Other |
1,264 |
0.12% |
3,083 |
0.24% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
1,086,460 |
100.00% |
1,283,614 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
177,858 |
34.34% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,944 |
21.30% |
Asian Language** |
6,564 |
44.17% |
Other Language |
930 |
30.17% |
Total |
189,296 |
14.75% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
174,596 |
40.36% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,623 |
22.16% |
Asian Language** |
4,435 |
46.98% |
Other Language |
376 |
29.75% |
Total |
183,030 |
16.85% |
* "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
|