The spatial organization of the socio-economic processes experiences a transformation at the global, national and regional levels. Understanding the common factors of spatial transformation requests a revision of theoretical concepts and a search for comparable patterns to explore and predict current trends. This paper discusses the theoretical approaches applicable to study the dynamics of the regional resettlement system. Retrospective examination deals with analysis of the theoretical models description beginning with the works of Johann von Thünen, Walter Christaller and August Lesch as the brightest representatives of German school of economic thought of the late XIX and early XX centuries, Paul Krugman’s “center — periphery” and “new economic geography” models, that laid the theoretical foundation for modern spatial-economic research. The results of the analysis are to be applied to study of regional systems of settlement issues and territorial organization of the economy using the example of the Altai Krai. The article considers theoretical models genesis beginning with static ones, describing evenly developing social and economic space, to the modern dynamic models allowing to investigate processes of concentration of economy and settlements systems and territorial systems heterogeneity.