  The projected distribution of stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) from
the Magellanic Clouds Photometric Survey is analysed. Stars of different ages
are selected via criteria based on V magnitude and V-I colour, and the degree
of `grouping' as a function of age is studied. We quantify the degree of
structure using the two-point correlation function and a method based on the
Minimum Spanning Tree and find that the overall structure of the SMC is
evolving from a high degree of sub-structure at young ages (~10 Myr) to a
smooth radial density profile. This transition is gradual and at ~75 Myr the
distribution is statistically indistinguishable from the background SMC
distribution. This time-scale corresponds to approximately the dynamical
crossing time of stars in the SMC. The spatial positions of the star clusters
in the SMC show a similar evolution of spatial distribution with age. Our
analysis suggests that stars form with a high degree of (fractal)
sub-structure, probably imprinted by the turbulent nature of the gas from which
they form, which is erased by random motions in the galactic potential on a
time-scale of a galactic crossing time.
