Researching territorial development in the independent Croatia is an interesting subject for
research from many aspects. Unique developments – state formation, war, spatial
restructuring of population – have been taking place up until the turn of the millennium,
which have also been accompanied by several significant regional impacts. The historical
differences have been escalated by the time of transition, the process of Euro-Atlantic
integration, and eventually, by the world economic crisis. This study takes into account the
most important spatial forming factors and developments on a county level, focusing on the
time frame, at the end of which Croatia became a full member of the European Union.