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 |
1,419,472 |
79.57% |
1,394,911 |
73.79% |
Spanish |
156,649 |
8.78% |
240,373 |
12.72% |
Other Indo-European* |
164,947 |
9.25% |
186,271 |
9.85% |
Asian Language** |
30,506 |
1.71% |
46,849 |
2.48% |
Other |
12,437 |
0.70% |
22,001 |
1.16% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
1,784,011 |
100.00% |
1,890,405 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
121,388 |
50.50% |
Other Indo-European* |
74,117 |
39.79% |
Asian Language** |
17,890 |
38.19% |
Other Language |
4,945 |
22.48% |
Total |
218,340 |
11.55% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
80,325 |
51.28% |
Other Indo-European* |
67,454 |
40.89% |
Asian Language** |
13,261 |
43.47% |
Other Language |
3,196 |
25.70% |
Total |
164,236 |
9.21% |
* "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
|