GROWTH OF URBAN SPACE IN THE EAST AND SOUTH AXIS OF POÇOS DE CALDAS, MINAS GERAIS

NOTES FOR SOCIO-SPACE SEGREGATION

Abstract

This work aims to promote the discussion about socio-spatial segregation in medium-sized cities, having the city of Poços de Caldas as an analytical focus. This is a medium-sized city located in the mesoregion Sul/Sudoeste de Minas, in the state of Minas Gerais. Known for its scenic beauty and for its tourist activities linked to thermal waters and leisure, it has national recognition. In its intra-urban space, socio-spatial differences and inequalities are observed, both in terms of physical space and social content. From the 1950s onwards, the urban territory and the local population grew significantly, due to changes in the local economy. In this way, the city was reorganized, and new urban sectors were created on the east and south axes, such as the East Zone (occupied from the 40s of the 20th century) and the South Zone (which begins to be occupied during the final years of the 1960s). Both sectors have lower socioeconomic indices (when compared to other urban sectors), have fewer trade and service offerings, as well as fewer institutions and infrastructure for leisure. The discontinuity of the urban fabric, the long distances, the lower offers of collective consumption goods and the lower socioeconomic indices in the East and South zones point to socio-spatial segregation.