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 |
411,194 |
67.89% |
387,594 |
58.50% |
Spanish |
82,509 |
13.62% |
119,972 |
18.11% |
Other Indo-European* |
33,918 |
5.60% |
44,044 |
6.65% |
Asian Language** |
71,778 |
11.85% |
102,970 |
15.54% |
Other |
6,277 |
1.04% |
7,929 |
1.20% |
Total Population Age 5+ |
605,676 |
100.00% |
662,509 |
100.00% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 2000
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
65,294 |
54.42% |
Other Indo-European* |
12,383 |
28.12% |
Asian Language** |
42,505 |
41.28% |
Other Language |
2,242 |
28.28% |
Total |
122,424 |
18.48% |
Population Speaking English Less Than "Very Well" in 1990
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Language Spoken at Home: |
Number |
Percent |
Spanish |
43,200 |
52.36% |
Other Indo-European* |
10,202 |
30.08% |
Asian Language** |
30,916 |
43.07% |
Other Language |
1,891 |
30.13% |
Total |
86,209 |
14.23% |
* "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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