ANHANDUÍ (MS): TERRITORIALIZATION AND IDENTITY BASED ON BR-163 COMMERCE

Abstract

The district of Anhanduí, located within the municipality of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, presents a territorial configuration historically shaped by the BR-163 highway and the regional trade established along its margins. This study examines how highway-based commerce structures territorialization and local identity in Anhanduí based on the narratives of residents, merchants, and community leaders. It argues that such commercial activity transcends its strictly economic function, operating as a structuring element of territorial identity and social cohesion, particularly in the context of recent infrastructural transformations and limited public policy intervention. The research is justified by the scarcity of systematic studies on the locality and by the need to understand how small communities construct and preserve their territorialities. A qualitative and exploratory approach was adopted, combining documentary research, theoretical review, and semi-structured interviews analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicate that the BR-163 roadside stalls perform both economic and symbolic roles, reinforcing bonds of belonging, solidarity, and collective memory. However, declining traffic flows, toll implementation, and uncertainties regarding highway duplication weaken this activity. The study concludes that highway commerce constitutes a central marker of territorial identity, underscoring the need for integrated public policies aimed at strengthening local development.