ИСТИНА

While large-scale urbanization remains the leading trend in population dynamics in Russia, little is known about the factors, which define changes in settlement patterns at regional and local levels. By bringing the example of Tyumen oblast of Russia, the author focuses on spatial patterns of population dynamics during the period 1981–2010. Changes in settlements structure are studied, zones of population increase and decrease at three time steps are defined. The ultimate goal is to provide a better understanding of driving forces of rural areas depopulation. The work is based on Tyumen oblast statistical committee and census data on 1.4 thousand urban and rural settlements’ population. The late soviet period 1981–1990 was characterized by population increase in cities; large and middle-sized rural settlements, primarily, district centers; in areas close to Tyumen and along the main transport routes and landscape axes. The collapse of state-socialist economy temporarily restricted growth of large settlements, but did not affect spatial patterns of population dynamics. Finally, in the 2000s the population increase shifted to Tyumen suburban area and back to cities and district centers.