The central point of this paper is the provincial reform of 1775. The article discusses the issue of the history of the Yakut region formation in 1775-1822 in the context of transformative policies of the Russian Empire in the outlying areas. The author approves the thesis of «alignment» of regional management, developed in the Siberian historiography, in the specific conditions of the Northeast Asian Russia. Specific features of the regional management on the example of Yakutia are highlighted. The most important stages in formation of regional and administrative-territorial structures are surveyed. The author determines some prospects for the further study of the issue.