As one of four major black soil areas in the world, the black soil area in northeast China boasts fertile and rare black soil resources, and its protection and utilization have always attracted much attention. The changes in land uses/cover affect the structure, function, and health of the ecosystem and thus are greatly significant for the sustainable utilization of land resources. Based on the data on the land uses/cover in 1970, 1995, 2010, and 2020, this study analyzed the spatio-temporal characteristics of the change in the land uses of the black soil area in northeast China over the past half century using the methods, such as transfer matrix, comprehensive dynamic degree, and spatial change model. The results are as follows. ①The areas of construction land, cultivated land, and grassland in the black soil area of northeast China generally increased over the past half century, whereas the areas of wetland, woodland, and unused land generally decreased. The changes in land types mainly occurred in the Sanjiang Plain, the northwestern Songnen Plain, and the Xiliaohe Plain. ②The change in each land type was dominated by the alternating quantity, with a large amount of spatial position shift occurring. ③The degree of land utilization slightly increased yearly but is still lower than the national level, suggesting considerable potential for land development and utilization. Therefore, further studies should focus on the spatio-temporal characteristics and mechanisms of the change in the land uses of the black soil area in northeast China, as well as their impacts on the habitats, ecological service functions, and balance of carbon budget, to fully utilize and protect the black soil area and optimize the national spatial layout.