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 |
421,758 |
79.22% |
537,622 |
71.32% |
Spanish |
86,558 |
16.26% |
168,283 |
22.33% |
Other Indo-European* |
11,747 |
2.21% |
19,724 |
2.62% |
Asian Language** |
10,123 |
1.90% |
24,443 |
3.24% |
Other |
2,172 |
0.41% |
3,714 |
0.49% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
532,358 |
100.00% |
753,786 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
77,954 |
46.32% |
Other Indo-European* |
4,534 |
22.99% |
Asian Language** |
10,881 |
44.52% |
Other Language |
981 |
26.41% |
Total |
94,350 |
12.52% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
31,534 |
36.43% |
Other Indo-European* |
2,563 |
21.82% |
Asian Language** |
5,412 |
53.46% |
Other Language |
453 |
20.86% |
Total |
39,962 |
7.51% |
* "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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