Migration over a period of 20 years in 3 neighbouring, but contrasting, communes in North Norway was examined to determine whether a village or small town in a rural area functioned as an intervening opportunity for the area's rural inhabitants. The nature and effects of local migration which occurred in a predominantly rural area during the period in which the development of urban settlements at the lowest urban hierarchy level was taking place, but in which there was no policy intended specifically to influence the settlement pattern, were examined. The communes differed topographically and in the number and size of agglomerated settlements. Data were obtained from: each commune's population register, migration notifications during the period 1962 to mid-1965, and published and unpublished census data. Population registers consisted of a card index containing address changes and new addresses of the members of each household. Skjervoy was used as a trial growth centre. Findings included: between 40% and 50% of the migrants were between 15 and 24 years of age; migrants to growing villages were more evenly distributed over the age range than migrants to other places; single people were less prone to move locally than families; and an important element in the growth of villages and small towns in rural areas was immigration from other areas. (NQ)