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 |
269,620 |
87.27% |
310,121 |
87.33% |
Spanish |
4,137 |
1.34% |
9,712 |
2.73% |
Other Indo-European* |
32,086 |
10.39% |
29,121 |
8.20% |
Asian Language** |
2,018 |
0.65% |
4,580 |
1.29% |
Other |
1,090 |
0.35% |
1,594 |
0.45% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
308,951 |
100.00% |
355,128 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
4,259 |
43.85% |
Other Indo-European* |
7,856 |
26.98% |
Asian Language** |
2,265 |
49.45% |
Other Language |
484 |
30.36% |
Total |
14,864 |
4.19% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
1,854 |
44.82% |
Other Indo-European* |
8,746 |
27.26% |
Asian Language** |
936 |
46.38% |
Other Language |
274 |
25.14% |
Total |
11,810 |
3.82% |
* "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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