Abstract: This study applied spatial analysis and statistical methods to analyze settlements structure properties, spatial distribution and impacting factors for Ansai, Yan’an, a county in hilly and gully regions of Loess Plateau. Results showed that the forest, grassland and arable land are the main land use types in Ansai County. Settlement patches were small; they were accounted for only 0.92% of the total area. Although the shapes of them were regular, there was poor connectivity between settlement patches due to the fragmentation of the landscape. Spatially, the largest settlement distribution density were found in the eastern valley area of the county, where the elevation is lower and the terrain is more flat. With the patch area elevation, slope and aspect changing, the settlement areas showed skewed normal or normal distribution, illustrating obvious spatial agglomeration characteristic. In addition, the settlements are generally distributed along rivers and roads.