Amphoe Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province

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Chom Thong
จอมทอง
Statistics
Province: Chiang Mai
District office: 18°25′2″N, 98°40′33″E
Area: 712.297 km²
Inhabitants: 65,162 (2005)
Pop. density: 91.5 inh./km²
Geocode: 5002
Postal code: 50160
Map
Map of Chiang Mai, Thailand highlighting Chom Thong

Chom Thong (Thai: จอมทอง) is a district (Amphoe) in the southern part of Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand.

[edit] History

According to the legend of Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan, the location of the temple is on a small hill which looks similar to a termite hill (Chom Pluak in Thai). The hill is covered by Thong Kwao or Bastard teak (Butea monosperma) and Thong Lang or Coral trees (Erythrina variegata) forest. Thus the people called the hill Chom Thong.

After Lord Buddha entered parinirvana, King Asoka the Great visited the hill to place Buddha's relics there. The temple was built on the hill and named Wat Phra That Chom Thong in 1451. Later the temple was upgraded to be Royal temple and at the same time renamed to Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan.

The government created a district in the area in 1900 and named the new district Chom Thong following the legend. The district office was originally located in Ban Tha Sala, Tambon Khuang Pao. In 1933 the office was moved to the southwest of Wat Phra That Chom Thong.

[edit] Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Hot, Mae Chaem, Mae Wang, Doi Lo of Chiang Mai Province, Wiang Nong Long and Ban Hong of Lamphun Province.

The important river is the Ping River.

The Doi Inthanon National Park is located in the district.

[edit] Administration

The district is subdivided into 6 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 96 villages (muban). Chom Thong is a township (thesaban tambon), which covers parts of tambon Ban Luang, Khuan Pao and Doi Kaeo. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Inh.
3. Ban Luang บ้านหลวง 23 15,618
4. Khuang Pao ข่วงเปา 12 10,912
5. Sop Tia สบเตี๊ยะ 20 12,739
6. Ban Pae บ้านแปะ 18 12,050
7. Doi Kaeo ดอยแก้ว 9 5,128
9. Mae Soi แม่สอย 14 8,715

Missing numbers are tambon which now form Doi Lo district.

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