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 |
149,154 |
55.81% |
165,279 |
57.06% |
Spanish |
113,794 |
42.58% |
118,743 |
40.99% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,883 |
1.08% |
3,003 |
1.04% |
Asian Language** |
1,198 |
0.45% |
2,342 |
0.81% |
Other |
236 |
0.09% |
306 |
0.11% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
267,265 |
100.00% |
289,673 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
37,946 |
31.96% |
Other Indo-European* |
623 |
20.75% |
Asian Language** |
838 |
35.78% |
Other Language |
55 |
17.97% |
Total |
39,462 |
13.62% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
43,175 |
37.94% |
Other Indo-European* |
720 |
24.97% |
Asian Language** |
467 |
38.98% |
Other Language |
60 |
25.42% |
Total |
44,422 |
16.62% |
* "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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