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 |
430,453 |
77.50% |
423,478 |
72.60% |
Spanish |
31,826 |
5.73% |
71,935 |
12.33% |
Other Indo-European* |
80,136 |
14.43% |
67,187 |
11.52% |
Asian Language** |
10,200 |
1.84% |
15,967 |
2.74% |
Other |
2,798 |
0.50% |
4,711 |
0.81% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
555,413 |
100.00% |
583,278 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
38,115 |
52.99% |
Other Indo-European* |
24,747 |
36.83% |
Asian Language** |
8,144 |
51.01% |
Other Language |
1,407 |
29.87% |
Total |
72,413 |
12.41% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
18,682 |
58.70% |
Other Indo-European* |
29,361 |
36.64% |
Asian Language** |
6,252 |
61.29% |
Other Language |
761 |
27.20% |
Total |
55,056 |
9.91% |
* "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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