What does this indicator measure?
This indicator shows the percentage of non-English speakers in the counties of the Dallas Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) in order to give a context for the importance of this indicator, as well as the efforts being made to provide an environment that is welcoming to non-English speakers. This indicator specifically addresses efforts made by public institutions to welcome Spanish-speaking residents who do not speak English well because these residents compose the fastest growing segment of the non-English-speaking population in the Dallas PMSA. Additionally, this indicator gives some information about the efforts of some other organizations in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Why is this indicator important?
Variety in languages is important in a community to ensure that everyone, both residents and visitors, can receive basic information and services needed for everyday life. The growth of the Dallas area’s Hispanic and foreign-born population has increased the importance of a welcoming and inclusive environment. It is important that this segment of the population not be underserved and not be distanced from civic and community involvement.
How are we doing?
The U.S. Census tracks language skills and nativity (country of birth). Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of people who reported that they "did not speak English very well” increased across Dallas, Dallas County, and the Dallas PMSA. Census 2000 reported that nearly 22% of Dallas residents, 18% of Dallas County residents, and 14% of Dallas PMSA residents reported not speaking English well. More recent statistics show an even greater increase. More current and detailed data may be viewed in the Population growth indicator.
Given the growth of the Hispanic population, it is no surprise that the portion of Dallas PMSA households in which Spanish was the primary language spoken grew from 12% in 1990 to 20% in 2000.
- In Dallas County, Spanish was spoken at home by 27% of residents, according to Census 2000; in the city of Dallas, 32% of residents spoke Spanish at home.
- A 2002 Census survey reported that Dallas had the eighth highest percentage of residents speaking Spanish at home.
The number of foreign-born residents in Dallas, Dallas County, and the Dallas PMSA has also risen in recent years. The portion of Dallas residents born outside the United States rose from 13% in 1990 to 24% in 2000. Statistics for Dallas County and the PMSA showed similar trends. In both Dallas County and the Dallas PMSA as a whole, the percentage of residents who were born in Texas fell between 1990 and 2000.
Many social agencies and public institutions offer services in multiple languages, but we have not yet found a measurement of this capacity in Dallas. Instead, we present here some of the specific indications of whether or not the Dallas PMSA is attempting to reach the non-English-speaking population in the cities and counties with the highest populations. These include the cities of Dallas, Plano, and Denton and Dallas, Denton, and Collin Counties.
- The City of Dallas Web site offers a mirror site that is almost completely in Spanish. Spanish-speaking visitors to the site are able to pay water bills online, obtain transportation and other information, schedule building inspections, and perform a variety of other activities. The only activity on the site that is not interactive in Spanish is the city's 311 system, with which visitors can access the city's nonemergency services only in English.
- Denton County's Web site offers a mirror site completely in Spanish that appears to offer the same level of interactivity as the English-language site.
- Collin County's Web site offers a Web-generated translation into Spanish. Visitors must click on an "I accept" statement before they can access the translation, indicating they understand that the translation may not be correct in all instances or that some interactive features will not work when the translator is used.
- Web sites for Dallas County, the City of Denton, and the City of Plano do not offer Spanish-language versions.
- The Dallas, Denton, and Plano Public Library Web sites each have extensive Spanish versions, although they do not mirror the English language sites.
There are some other indicators of how welcoming and inclusive the Dallas PMSA is to non-English speakers.
- Some organizations exist specifically to promote such an environment and the availability of ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. DFW International is a Dallas-based network of more than 1,600 North Texas organizations that provide resources and events to promote and link ethnic and New American groups in North Texas.
- Many, if not most, medical facilities in the Dallas PMSA offer translation services to patients and their families concerning patient care. Both Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and the Parkland Health and Hospital System have basic patient and visitor information in Spanish on their Web sites.