历史时期,晋西北的河曲县城址曾经历了由“依山而建”向“傍水发展”的过程,而这样的发展模式其实代表了黄土高原上许多小县镇的发展轨迹。考察其城址选择与迁移的过程及原因,对今天县域经济社会发展当有重要意义。在此基础上,着重指出除自然地理条件对城址选择的制约外,不同时期政府所面临的主要社会矛盾也是决定城镇选址的重要原因。 During the historical period, the site of Hequ County in northwestern Shanxi had experienced the process of “developing from the mountainside to the development of the nearby watershed”, and such a model of development actually represents the development path of many small towns on the Loess Plateau . Investigating the process and the reasons for the selection and relocation of the city site is of great significance to the economic and social development in the county today. On this basis, it is emphasized that the major social conflicts that the government faces in different periods are also the important reasons for deciding the location of cities and towns in addition to the restriction of natural and geographical conditions on the selection of sites.