The environmental determinism argues that the human activities are contingent upon the environment. However, opponents contest that political, economic and behavior organizations are the determinant factors of spatial form. Taiwan's history of social spatial development divided into four different periods is examined. It is argued that the relation between" environment (space)" and "human (ethnic group)" evolutions according to the difference of social background and time presenting a changing cycle. Rooted in a case study, the conclusion reach that, for example, (1)different relationships of period of ethnic groups presents different period of social development; (2) different distribution of ethnic groups imposes different impacts upon spatial development, and forms different characteristics of spatial structure; (3) the relative development of ethnic groups and spatial structure manifests cyclical characteristics. In the final part of this thesis, the implications for the spatial planning are examined.