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 |
222,430 |
92.82% |
198,440 |
91.10% |
Spanish |
6,689 |
2.79% |
8,482 |
3.89% |
Other Indo-European* |
5,171 |
2.16% |
4,930 |
2.26% |
Asian Language** |
4,689 |
1.96% |
5,063 |
2.32% |
Other |
650 |
0.27% |
903 |
0.41% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
239,629 |
100.00% |
217,818 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,769 |
32.65% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,262 |
25.60% |
Asian Language** |
2,185 |
43.16% |
Other Language |
263 |
29.13% |
Total |
6,479 |
2.97% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
2,011 |
30.06% |
Other Indo-European* |
1,542 |
29.82% |
Asian Language** |
2,131 |
45.45% |
Other Language |
204 |
31.38% |
Total |
5,888 |
2.46% |
* "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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