A Case Study on Domestic Migration: The Outward Flow Exiting Golfo Aranci between 1945-1978 through Local Sources

Abstract

Golfo Aranci, a small village of the Gallura region , in the north of Sardinia, developed thanks to the arrival of immigrants, most of them sailors and fishermen, coming from Campania and, primarily, from the Pontine islands. In fact, it was the citizens of the Ponza islands who moved massively to Golfo Aranci during the period ranging between the beginning and the end of the First World War. Since the 1960s, thanks to the development of the Emerald Coast and the tourism industry, as well as to the influence of its port, this small village has experienced a major growth in population. However, in spite of the above, a moderate outward flow of migrants was recorded between 1945 and 1978, headed to other towns of Sardinia, the characteristics of which are describe d and analysed in this article. The sources of this research are the Registri degli emigrati – i.e. records of migrants – held at the 12th Category of the General Archives of Poltu Quadu, in the Municipality of Olbia, of which Golfo Aranci was part until 1979, the year in which it was finally recognised as an autonomous administrative entity.