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 |
252,484 |
74.97% |
278,370 |
67.59% |
Spanish |
54,010 |
16.04% |
97,137 |
23.59% |
Other Indo-European* |
14,414 |
4.28% |
17,166 |
4.17% |
Asian Language** |
10,947 |
3.25% |
11,478 |
2.79% |
Other |
4,933 |
1.46% |
7,682 |
1.87% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
336,788 |
100.00% |
411,833 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
48,468 |
49.90% |
Other Indo-European* |
6,582 |
38.34% |
Asian Language** |
6,006 |
52.33% |
Other Language |
3,262 |
42.46% |
Total |
64,318 |
15.62% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
26,563 |
49.18% |
Other Indo-European* |
4,867 |
33.77% |
Asian Language** |
7,473 |
68.27% |
Other Language |
2,082 |
42.21% |
Total |
40,985 |
12.17% |
* "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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