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 |
391,652 |
64.70% |
433,491 |
59.19% |
Spanish |
156,144 |
25.79% |
230,401 |
31.46% |
Other Indo-European* |
18,649 |
3.08% |
19,551 |
2.67% |
Asian Language** |
36,828 |
6.08% |
45,275 |
6.18% |
Other |
2,090 |
0.35% |
3,704 |
0.51% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
605,363 |
100.00% |
732,422 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
115,594 |
50.17% |
Other Indo-European* |
7,448 |
38.10% |
Asian Language** |
27,188 |
60.05% |
Other Language |
1,441 |
38.90% |
Total |
151,671 |
20.71% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
76,312 |
48.87% |
Other Indo-European* |
5,861 |
31.43% |
Asian Language** |
26,654 |
72.37% |
Other Language |
988 |
47.27% |
Total |
109,815 |
18.14% |
* "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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