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 |
215,726 |
89.71% |
231,678 |
88.08% |
Spanish |
7,251 |
3.02% |
12,656 |
4.81% |
Other Indo-European* |
13,492 |
5.61% |
13,206 |
5.02% |
Asian Language** |
2,913 |
1.21% |
3,627 |
1.38% |
Other |
1,090 |
0.45% |
1,870 |
0.71% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
240,472 |
100.00% |
263,037 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
4,831 |
38.17% |
Other Indo-European* |
3,386 |
25.64% |
Asian Language** |
1,288 |
35.51% |
Other Language |
516 |
27.59% |
Total |
10,021 |
3.81% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,359 |
32.53% |
Other Indo-European* |
4,014 |
29.75% |
Asian Language** |
1,113 |
38.21% |
Other Language |
338 |
31.01% |
Total |
7,824 |
3.25% |
* "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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