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 |
498,936 |
87.49% |
449,241 |
83.25% |
Spanish |
35,021 |
6.14% |
49,461 |
9.17% |
Other Indo-European* |
22,324 |
3.91% |
23,721 |
4.40% |
Asian Language** |
6,978 |
1.22% |
8,974 |
1.66% |
Other |
7,025 |
1.23% |
8,261 |
1.53% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
570,284 |
100.00% |
539,658 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
25,355 |
51.26% |
Other Indo-European* |
5,815 |
24.51% |
Asian Language** |
4,508 |
50.23% |
Other Language |
2,558 |
30.96% |
Total |
38,236 |
7.09% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
18,725 |
53.47% |
Other Indo-European* |
5,194 |
23.27% |
Asian Language** |
3,229 |
46.27% |
Other Language |
1,980 |
28.19% |
Total |
29,128 |
5.11% |
* "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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