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 |
766,840 |
42.63% |
676,347 |
32.08% |
Spanish |
901,270 |
50.11% |
1,248,616 |
59.22% |
Other Indo-European* |
110,127 |
6.12% |
155,369 |
7.37% |
Asian Language** |
11,784 |
0.66% |
16,395 |
0.78% |
Other |
8,740 |
0.49% |
11,785 |
0.56% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
1,798,761 |
100.00% |
2,108,512 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
658,721 |
52.76% |
Other Indo-European* |
62,059 |
39.94% |
Asian Language** |
7,789 |
47.51% |
Other Language |
3,245 |
27.54% |
Total |
731,814 |
34.71% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
506,008 |
56.14% |
Other Indo-European* |
48,159 |
43.73% |
Asian Language** |
5,833 |
49.50% |
Other Language |
2,948 |
33.73% |
Total |
562,948 |
31.30% |
* "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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