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 |
516,499 |
93.22% |
541,657 |
88.39% |
Spanish |
18,339 |
3.31% |
44,062 |
7.19% |
Other Indo-European* |
7,763 |
1.40% |
8,970 |
1.46% |
Asian Language** |
8,549 |
1.54% |
14,379 |
2.35% |
Other |
2,940 |
0.53% |
3,728 |
0.61% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
554,090 |
100.00% |
612,796 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
22,461 |
50.98% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,399 |
26.74% |
Asian Language** |
8,408 |
58.47% |
Other Language |
910 |
24.41% |
Total |
34,178 |
5.58% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
|
Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
8,102 |
44.18% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,126 |
27.39% |
Asian Language** |
5,085 |
59.48% |
Other Language |
679 |
23.10% |
Total |
15,992 |
2.89% |
* "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
|