The centrality of Mossoró (RN) in the regional urban network (1985-1915)

Abstract

From the second half of the 19^th century, the city of Mossoró became an important node in the Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) urban network, given its role as an emporium and trading post between the coast and the sertão hinterland region, and its influence extended beyond the state’s territorial limits to reach the states of Ceará and Paraíba. By analyzing the Urban Historical Geography of Mossoró it is possible to identify the different roles and causes of the city’s influence on the surrounding territory at different time periods. With that, the objective of this article is to analyze the centrality of Mossoró played in the regional urban network in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries by identifying the attraction and dispersion of different flows to and from the city in which it was attributed centrality in distinct temporalities. The research approach for this paper is rooted in Urban Historical Geography, as per the temporal demarcation and analysis, with an emphasis on various primary documented sources. The study concludes that since the mid-19^th century Mossoró has been an important node in the regional urban network and has undergone diverse restructuring processes of its urban functions.