The study is concerned with the problem of the origin of the timber and charcoal producing settlements in the historic territory of the town Banska Bystrica. The introduction outlines the origin of the mining and metal producing settlements, with the existence of which timber and charcoal production was connected. The specialized timber and charcoal settlements were younger. The oldest developed from originally metal producing settlements. The origin of the first settlements inhabited exclusively by timber and charcoal producers falls in the 17th century. The study follows up the whole process of development of this specific type of settlement from their origin to the mid 19th century.