[Purposes] Taking the typical counties in central China as the research object, this paper analyzes and summarizes the characteristics of their spatial development and evolution, discusses the optimal regulation and control methods in the current process of county spatial transformation, and provide reference for county-level territorial spatial planning and implementation. [Methods] Based on the requirements of land spatial planning in the new era and the perspective of "increment-stock", the qualitative and quantitative methods such as GIS spatial analysis technology and land use transfer matrix were used to systematically analyze the spatial evolution characteristics of Hengdong County, Hunan Province in recent years, and carry out research on the spatial development trend and optimal regulation of county town. [Findings] ① From 2009 to 2019, the expansion trend of urban construction land in the study area was obvious, occupying a large amount of arable land and forest land, the spatial expansion rate changed from high speed to low speed, and the spatial expansion changed from "multi-directional" to "shaft filling". ② The slowdown of agricultural and ecological land, mainly cultivated land and forest land, slowed down, and urban construction land changed from extension expansion to stock improvement; Various types of urban functional land showed different changing trends, and the spatial pattern of cities and towns tended to be stable. ③ It is proposed to take high-quality development as the guide, pay more attention to spatial transformation and renewal and improve the living environment while strengthening the smart growth of space, and then optimize and reconstruct the framework and strategy of urban spatial development. [Conclusions] This study plays an important role in deeply grasping the regulation of county spatial growth in the context of spatial governance modernization, which can provide reference for the spatial transformation of counties and counties in the new development stage, and help promote the high-quality development of counties and the integrated development of urban and rural areas.