Desenvolvimento urbano-rural da rede de Janaúba e Nova Porteirinha

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the increasing urban development that Janaúba and Nova Porteirinha have gone through since the 1950s, as well as the change of roles of these cities in the North of Minas Gerais. This development is associated to the construction of a dam named Bico da Pedra, once it allowed the start of irrigation projects. In this sense, it is important to notice that the urban development is a result of the development of the countryside, since the cities became a provider of equipments, implements, fertilizers and skilled work force that help in the growing of fruit crops. The space relation of order, concetration and polarity reflect the existing social order, generating a view of progress, underdevelopment and exclusion. This modified area, starts holding a differential position in the local urban network highlights its economic and social role related to the other micro regions of the North of Minas Gerais. This transformation did not take place spontaneously, instead, it happened due to the intervention of the state. therefore, to understand the role of the state concerning to the transformation of the cities, analyse the position of them in the local urban network, think of the relation of a city and the countryside and identify the various consequences of theses changes, are the main issues discussed in this paper.