Assuming a descriptive position, this article intends, in a first approach, to present the demographic polarization trend that the Municipality of Ponta Delgada revealed during the last two decades of the 20th Century. On this basis we try to identify the main courses of evolution and demographic intensification of the territorial unit in study, as to better characterize the urbanization process that is
responsible for the existing urban area of Ponta Delgada.

key words: demographic polarization, urban intensification, urbanization, city, Ponta Delgada.