Small Cities Networks in the Peruvian Territory. A Typological Analysis from the Case of La Libertad Region

In countries like Peru, global economic activity occurs in diverse territories of scattered po­pulation. We have not efficiently assessed their effects because we do not have studied urban networks when there are small and dispersed agglomerations in the territory. Therefore, the focus was on conducting a study on how the different localities occupying territories of diverse and hilly geography distribute and relate. The research proposes the development of network typologies in territorial units as an analysis strategy to identify the role of intermediation in small towns. Occupancy density, utility distribution, land uses, and temporary space contrac­tion were taken as indicators for the typological analysis. Three territorial units were chosen as a case study in La Libertad, a northern Peru region. The results made it possible to identify types of small-town networks that show marked differences in the occupation of the territory.