Foreign immigration by Nisyrians began systematically after the greek war of independence in 1821, which, despite the vigorous participation of the native islanders, failed to secure lasting union with Greece . Nisyrians travelled chiefly to cities in the eastern Mediterranean like Smyrna(Izmir), Constantinople, Attaleia(Antalya), Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Odessa on Black Sea, where there were substantial numbers of Greeks.
In the late 19th century the first immigrants from Nisyros began to arrive in the United States. Their numbers increased notably between 1908 and 1912, principally because Dodecanesians at home were now denied the special rights they enjoyed under the ottoman empire, and were required to serve in the turkish army. After the italian occupation of the island, many Nisyrians returned and worked enthusiastically for the securing of the promised union with Greece.
In 1828, Nisyros is recorded in a poll as having 3,300 inhabitants. This figure remained fairly stable through the rest of the 19th century, though in 1912 it has peaked at 5,000 people. In 1922, the island’s population was recorded as about 3,120-3,500, showing as a significant drop as Nisyrians became increasingly disaffected the new foreign regime. In 1940, Mandraki had 2,000 inhabitants. Nokia around 500 and Emporios about 600, a sum of 3,100, almost the same as at the beginning of the 19th century.
In 1940, the italian demographer Livio Livi, foreseeing the weakening of nisyrian culture trough immigration, urged Nisyrians to maintain their numbers by improving farming techniques and enhancing other local sources of revenue like the thermal bathing establishment.
Shortly after 1940, however, no doubt due to outbreak of World War II and the associated drop in level of tolerance displayed by the fascist regime, the island’s population reduced suddenly to 2,592. It appears to have leveled off until the early 1950s, likely because of the difficulties of travelling during the course of the war and the high expetactions that accompanied the union with Greece in 1947.
By 1961, however, the numbers had declined to 1,799; the trend continued until the late 1980s, which recorded some 900 inhabitants total (Nikia and Emporios now having been reduced to a mere handful of older inhabitants).
Immigration in the 1950s was massive, and precipitated by a powerful earthquake in 1953 which damaged many buildings, This earthquake, which was centered the volcanic island of Santorini, is remembered for the tidal waves it causes, which damaged the waterfront at Mandraki.
Nisyrians headed to Athens and Piraeus, Rhodes and Australia, but mostly to the United States. This destination was made all the more attractive by the post-war easing of restrictions on immigration by the U.S. government and the earlier settlement there of Nisyrians families, especially in Astoria, New York. It is interesting to note that the greatest reductions in population occurred in the villages of Emporios, with native moving mostly to Australia, and Nikia, most of whose families moved to Astoria.
The love for their homeland is perhaps best expressed by émigré Nisyrians through the cultural associations and social organisations the have formed.
In the U.S., Mandrakiotes have created the “Gnomagoras” association, which also operated out of Athens and Nisyros; Nikiates have formed the association ” Agios Iohannis o Theologos”; while Emporiates have the “Panagia h Thermiani” association, with branches in Athens, Melbourne, and Adelaide. These various associations and clubs have made significant contributions and sponsored substantial public works, like the “Omireios” school at Agios Savvas, the municipal baths, and the municipal cistern in Mandraki.
