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 |
572,580 |
87.19% |
595,964 |
85.00% |
Spanish |
26,346 |
4.01% |
42,732 |
6.09% |
Other Indo-European* |
46,811 |
7.13% |
42,780 |
6.10% |
Asian Language** |
7,039 |
1.07% |
13,472 |
1.92% |
Other |
3,920 |
0.60% |
6,209 |
0.89% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
656,696 |
100.00% |
701,157 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
19,013 |
44.49% |
Other Indo-European* |
13,925 |
32.55% |
Asian Language** |
7,345 |
54.52% |
Other Language |
1,593 |
25.66% |
Total |
41,876 |
5.97% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
12,503 |
47.46% |
Other Indo-European* |
13,814 |
29.51% |
Asian Language** |
3,669 |
52.12% |
Other Language |
1,264 |
32.24% |
Total |
31,250 |
4.76% |
* "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
|