| Pak Chong ปากช่อง |
|
|---|---|
| — Amphoe — | |
| Amphoe location in Nakhon Ratchasima Province | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Nakhon Ratchasima |
| Seat | Pak Chong |
| Amphoe established | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,825.2 km2 (704.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 182,588 |
| • Density | 100.0/km2 (259/sq mi) |
| Time zone | THA (UTC+7) |
| Postal code | 30130, 30320 |
| Geocode | 3021 |
Pak Chong (Thai: ปากช่อง) is the westernmost district (amphoe) of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand.
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In the past this area was a part of Tambon Khanong Phra, Chan Thuek district (which is now Sikhio district).
In 1949 Ban Pak Chong was upgraded to be Tambon Pak Chong. It was upgraded to a minor district (King Amphoe) effective January 1 1957, consisting of the four subdistricts Pak Chong, Chanthuek, Klong Dan and Mu Si.[1] It was finally upgraded to a full district in July 1958.[2]
In the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during the construction of the northeastern railway through the area, the Nok Yung and Noi mountains were blasted through to make a channel (Chong in Thai) for the railway. Then the people named the village Pak Chong, meaning mouth of the channel.
Pak Chong is the biggest district of Nakhon Ratchasima by area. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Sikhio, Wang Nam Khiao of Nakhon Ratchasima, Mueang Nakhon Nayok of Nakhon Nayok Province, Prachantakham of Prachinburi Province, and Muak Lek of Saraburi Province.
The district is the gateway to the Northeast (Isan) of Thailand from the central region, as the main pass through the Sankamphaeng Range mountainous area is located in the southern section of this district. The southern parts of the district are part of Thailand's first and largest national park, Khao Yai. Within the park is the origin of the Takhong River, a tributary of the Mun River. The Takhong is the main water resource of Nakhon Ratchasima city.
Both the Mittraphap Road as well as the northeastern railway cross the district.
The long-distance trains from Bangkok to Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani stop at Pak Chong railway station,[3] as well as the local trains connecting Saraburi with Nakhon Ratchasima.
The district is subdivided into 12 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 169 villages (muban). Pak Chong is a town (thesaban mueang) which covers parts of the tambon Pak Chong and Nong Sarai. There are further four subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon) - Klank Dong covers parts of the tambon Klang Dong and Phaya Yen, Mu Si the whole tambon Mu Si, Sima Mongkhon further parts of Klong Dong and Wang Sai the whole tambon Wang Sai. The remaining nine subdistrict are each administrated by a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai | Inh. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pak Chong | ปากช่อง | 44,100 |
| 2. | Klang Dong | กลางดง | 12,301 |
| 3. | Chanthuek | จันทึก[4] | 15,974 |
| 4. | Wang Katha | วังกะทะ | 9,139 |
| 5. | Mu Si | หมูสี | 11,729 |
| 6. | Nong Sarai | หนองสาหร่าย | 35,591 |
| 7. | Khanong Phra | ขนงพระ | 11,263 |
| 8. | Pong Talong | โป่งตาลอง | 5,014 |
| 9. | Khlong Muang | คลองม่วง | 9,756 |
| 10. | Nong Nam Daeng | หนองน้ำแดง | 9,142 |
| 11. | Wang Sai | วังไทร | 11,137 |
| 12. | Phaya Yen | พญาเย็น | 7,442 |
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