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 |
209,386 |
64.54% |
195,650 |
52.74% |
Spanish |
86,066 |
26.53% |
146,443 |
39.48% |
Other Indo-European* |
12,439 |
3.83% |
11,312 |
3.05% |
Asian Language** |
15,626 |
4.82% |
15,975 |
4.31% |
Other |
917 |
0.28% |
1,570 |
0.42% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
324,434 |
100.00% |
370,950 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
88,292 |
60.29% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,893 |
25.57% |
Asian Language** |
7,649 |
47.88% |
Other Language |
421 |
26.82% |
Total |
99,255 |
26.76% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
48,627 |
56.50% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,469 |
27.89% |
Asian Language** |
8,045 |
51.48% |
Other Language |
272 |
29.66% |
Total |
60,413 |
18.62% |
* "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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