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 |
178,550 |
55.56% |
202,943 |
57.74% |
Spanish |
137,805 |
42.88% |
142,063 |
40.42% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,483 |
1.08% |
3,449 |
0.98% |
Asian Language** |
1,249 |
0.39% |
2,651 |
0.75% |
Other |
253 |
0.08% |
389 |
0.11% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
321,340 |
100.00% |
351,495 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
45,577 |
32.08% |
Other Indo-European* |
726 |
21.05% |
Asian Language** |
931 |
35.12% |
Other Language |
55 |
14.14% |
Total |
47,289 |
13.45% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
54,118 |
39.27% |
Other Indo-European* |
815 |
23.40% |
Asian Language** |
486 |
38.91% |
Other Language |
60 |
23.72% |
Total |
55,479 |
17.26% |
* "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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