Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: STHEPHANY GABRIELA MARFISA FURTADO VELOSO

URBAN EXPANSION OF THE CITY OF CURAIS NOVOS FROM 1980 TO 2022

Currais Novos; geographical events; urban expansion; centrality

The city of Currais Novos, considered a regional center that plays an important role in the urban network of Rio Grande do Norte, has its formation throughout the 20th century, tied to three economic activities: livestock farming, cotton farming, and mining. These activities began to decline from the 1980s onwards; however, the city maintained its relevance, experiencing growth. In this sense, the present research is dedicated to explaining the urban expansion and centrality of Currais Novos after the economic crisis of traditional activities, from 1980 to 2022, considering the geographical events involved in this expansion. The research is based on the spatial theory of geographer Milton Santos, adopting his concepts and categories as the main guidelines for discussions, and employing bibliographic and documentary research, collection of secondary data, and field research as methodological procedures. The initial phase of the research revealed that the formation of the city of Currais Novos was driven by livestock farming and cotton farming, but its urban content was intensified primarily by mining, when the city began to receive significant technical objects and public policies that contributed to its projection as a regional center.