Railways, structure and dynamics of market fair cities in the interior of the Brazilian territory

end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century

Abstract

At the end of the 19th century, the railroad entered the territory of the Brazilian Northeast, reaching two cities known for their markets, both for general consumption products and cattle: Feira de Santana (Bahia) – Estrada de Ferro Central da Bahia (1876) and Caruaru (Pernambuco) – Estrada de Ferro Great Western Railway Company of Brazil (1895). Considering that the railroad is a modern technical element, the question we pose is: What are the main changes and consequences in the dynamics of fair towns, when they become Rail End towns? Does the railroad drive the expansion of the urban fabric in its direction or is it a boundary line or a barrier? These questions guide the presented research. Thus, this article analyses the rela­tionship between the railroad and the structure and dynamics of the mentioned cities. The research reveals that, although the railroad has caused changes in the structure and dynamics of these cities, there are differences in the nature and intensity of the changes that have occurred.