Abstract: Studying the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and interactive mechanism of the coordinated development between socio-economic and eco-environment in Wuling Mountains area is of great significance for the construction of regional ecological civilization and sustainable development. Based on the evaluation index system for socio-economic development and eco-environment status of counties, this paper analyzed the spatial-temporal differentiation characteristics of socio-economic development and eco-environment changes in Wuling Mountains area from 2000 to 2020. The coupling coordination degree model was used to systematically discuss the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of coupling coordination between the two, and geographically weighted regression models (GWR) were used to explore the internal mechanisms of their mutual influences. The results showed that: (1) During the study period, the average value of socio-economic index and eco-environment index tended to increase after an initial decrease, and the spatial clustering phenomenon of ecological environment index was consistently significant. (2) The coupling coordination degree between socio-economic and eco-environment fluctuated upward from 2000 to 2020, mainly in the basic and moderate coordination levels, with a relatively stable spatial distribution, but the level of spatial clustering gradually weakened. (3) Socio-economic and eco-environment interacted with each other internally. Green and shared development positively drove changes in the ecological environment, while innovative development was mainly playing a negative inhibitory role. The impact of coordinated and open development on the ecological environment shifted from positive to negative. The ecosystem of water and grassland had a positive supporting effect on regional socio-economic development, while forests could have a constraining effect. The impact of farmland on socio-economic development shifted from negative to positive during the research period. At the same time, the degree of these impacts exhibited obvious spatial heterogeneity and "hierarchical gradual change" characteristics due to different dimensions. The sustainable protection of eco-environment and the in-depth development of green productivity were the keys to the coordinated development of socio-economic and eco-environment in Wuling Mountains area in the future. This research provided reference for relevant decisions of regional management.