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 |
370,481 |
75.42% |
404,239 |
66.64% |
Spanish |
102,465 |
20.86% |
175,849 |
28.99% |
Other Indo-European* |
6,834 |
1.39% |
8,444 |
1.39% |
Asian Language** |
9,620 |
1.96% |
15,525 |
2.56% |
Other |
1,820 |
0.37% |
2,576 |
0.42% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
491,220 |
100.00% |
606,633 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
89,601 |
50.95% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,950 |
34.94% |
Asian Language** |
7,480 |
48.18% |
Other Language |
991 |
38.47% |
Total |
101,022 |
16.65% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
50,975 |
49.75% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,574 |
23.03% |
Asian Language** |
5,079 |
52.80% |
Other Language |
679 |
37.31% |
Total |
58,307 |
11.87% |
* "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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