Annotation

The article substantiates the importance of single-industry towns (single-industry municipalities) as system-forming elements of the spatial organization of the economy of Russian regions. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to revise approaches to their management in the context of the transition to targeted state support and the integration of these territories into spatial development strategies. Based on an analysis of statistical data, regulations, and relevant scientific publications, we have identified current trends in the transformation of single-industry towns, systematized key issues in their socio-economic development, and defined promising areas of public policy. Particular attention is paid to substantiating the role of economic diversification, human capital development, and public-private partnership mechanisms as fundamental factors in the sustainable development of single-industry territories. The author proposes to consider single-industry towns not as “problem areas,” but as potential growth points for regional economies, provided differentiated management strategies are applied.