The article is devoted to the analysis of the process of urbanization of the Central Chernozemny region from the late XVI century to the beginning of the XVIII centuries. The work was carried out in the framework of the project to study the urbanization process of the Central Chernozemny region of Russia. This article concludes a series of works in this direction. Having studied a wide range of historical sources, the author identifies several stages of this process. The main events of the history of the urbanization process are examined. At the end of the XVI century, in an effort to protect its borders, Russia erects on the vast expanses of the South Russian borderland, about 10 military fortresses. By 1615, around them formed counties, and the fortresses began to gradually become full-fledged cities. This process was delayed and, due to various factors, was completed only at the beginning of the XVIII century, when the number of the population of the population exceeded the service level. Some cities became commercial and artisan centers, and then capitals of provinces (Kursk, Voronezh, Belgorod, Tambov). Studying the process of urbanization allows us to move to a different, qualitatively different level of understanding of this process. From the data of social and demographic history, in the future it is necessary to proceed to the study of changes in the organization of everyday life, norms and values. It is important to understand how servicemen became merchants and petty bourgeois.