DINÂMICAS URBANO-REGIONAIS: CRESCIMENTO POPULACIONAL E DISPERSÃO URBANA NO EIXO MARINGÁ-MANDAGUAÇU/PR

Abstract

This article investigates the population growth of Mandaguaçu, considering the regional influence of Maringá, with emphasis on the process of urban sprawl. The research is based on the integrated analysis of census data, cartographic information, and a literature review on urbanization in northern Paraná, especially concerning Mandaguaçu. The results show that the population growth and urban expansion of Mandaguaçu are directly associated with Maringá’s centrality and the accessibility provided by BR-376 highway. There is an intensification of daily commuting flows and the linear densification of urbanized areas along the highway, configuring a process of functional and territorial integration between the municipalities. The case of Mandaguaçu illustrates trends observed in other contexts in the Brazilian interior, where small cities undergo transformations marked by the proximity of more dynamic regional centers. The research contributes to the debate on urban planning in areas influenced by medium-sized cities and highlights the need for the implementation of integrated public policies for sustainable urban-regional development.