Corsican Migrations & Diaspora

There is a website called http://www.corsicadiaspora.com/ that helps Corsicans find other Corsicans around the world.  According to the website, Corsican people have dispersed to over 83 countries and 599 cities.  The top three cities on the website for Corsican diaspora are Paris and Marseille [considered “The First Corsican City of the World"] in France, and New York City.  It is estimated that 1.5 million Corsicans have left the native island of Corsica, however most of this emigration has been to France. 

            When Corsicans first began to disperse from Corsica, the major destinations included mainland France, and South America.  The main reason for Corsican diaspora was to leave behind the island’s poverty, and move to an economically better country where they can better their lives.  Some of the other reasons for these migrations included changes in European economics and culture, the second industrial revolution and agricultural issues including crop failure and drought.

Corsican Coffee Plantation in Yauco, Puerto Rico.  

      A popular destination for Corsicans who left their homes was the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.  One of the major reasons for choosing Puerto Rico was the island’s opportunities and because of the similar geographical features from island to island.  Corsicans tended to settle in Puerto Rico’s mountainous southwest.  The Corsican settlers and their descendants became prominent leaders in coffee cultivation, literature, politics, and education in Puerto Rico.  The town of Yauco is today nicknamed “Corsican Town.”  Similar to their diaspora to Puerto Rico, Corsicans also thrived in Venezuela where they helped develop the cocoa industry and were prominent leaders in art, commerce, and medicine. 

Sources:
http://www.corsicadiaspora.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsican_immigration_to_Venezuela
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsican_immigration_to_Puerto_Rico
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsican_people

Pictures:
Corsican Coffee Plantation in Yauco, Puerto Rico:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yauco_Coffee_Plantation.gif