Abstract: The subject of this research is the definition of conceptual foundations of a town. Such type of cities historically forms the basis of the national urban system. Town is a particular sociocultural space and economic unit of the urban sphere. The perception of essence and meaning of towns is revealed through the philosophical vision of these peculiarities. The system-semiotic approach towards examination of towns determines the fundamental regularities of their essence. Complex of parametric indicators allows focusing attention of the persons interested in development of small cities on the conceptual questions pertaining to prospects of their development. Methodology of the research leans on the system-semiotic approach of philosophy, the founder of which is considered A. I. Uyemov. It is based on the principle of determination of the object of study as a system consisting of the concept, structure, and substrate. The article scrutinizes a part of the system – the concept of town through formation of its parametric indicators and their semiotic analysis. The scientific novelty lies in the philosophical definition of conceptual grounds of the perception about a small city. The author provides a list of parametric indicators, which help positioning a small city as a universal urban space on one hand, and a territory of particular attention and meaningful sociocultural mission – on the other.