Review article

The article studies the historical and architectural development of the county towns of the Vologda Province. Factors affecting their architectural and planning features are described. The main periods of architectural identity and architectural and spatial appearance formation are systematized, starting with the introduction of«regular» plans at the end of the XVIII century, up to 1918. As a result of the study, the main stages of the development of the architectural and urban planning structure of county towns have been determined; typological groups of architectural ensembles and value components of structures are described; the significance of the architectural heritage of the province as an integral cultural phenomenon of the Russian North of the Vologda region has been substantiated.