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 |
465,959 |
83.03% |
460,180 |
80.43% |
Spanish |
39,573 |
7.05% |
60,176 |
10.52% |
Other Indo-European* |
48,449 |
8.63% |
41,381 |
7.23% |
Asian Language** |
5,661 |
1.01% |
7,890 |
1.38% |
Other |
1,576 |
0.28% |
2,530 |
0.44% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
561,218 |
100.00% |
572,157 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
25,128 |
41.76% |
Other Indo-European* |
14,884 |
35.97% |
Asian Language** |
3,851 |
48.81% |
Other Language |
527 |
20.83% |
Total |
44,390 |
7.76% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
18,910 |
47.79% |
Other Indo-European* |
15,266 |
31.51% |
Asian Language** |
3,236 |
57.16% |
Other Language |
289 |
18.34% |
Total |
37,701 |
6.72% |
* "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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