Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province

Chom Thong
จอมทอง
Amphoe

Amphoe location in Chiang Mai Province
Coordinates: 18°25′2″N 98°40′33″E / 18.41722°N 98.67583°ECoordinates: 18°25′2″N 98°40′33″E / 18.41722°N 98.67583°E
Country  Thailand
Province Chiang Mai
Area
  Total 712.297 km2 (275.019 sq mi)
Population (2013)
  Total 66,353
  Density 107.20/km2 (277.6/sq mi)
Time zone THA (UTC+7)
Postal code 50160
Geocode 5002

Chom Thong (Thai: จอมทอง; IPA: [tɕɔ̄ːm tʰɔ̄ːŋ]) is a district (amphoe) in the southern part of Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand.

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.

Geography

Neighbouring 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.

Administration

Central administration

The district Chom Thong is subdivided into 6 subdistricts (Tambon), which are further subdivided into 103 administrative villages (Muban).

No. Name Thai Villages Pop.[1]
3.Ban Luangบ้านหลวง2316,550
4.Khuang Paoข่วงเปา1510,833
5.Sop Tiaสบเตี๊ยะ2112,407
6.Ban Paeบ้านแปะ2012,042
7.Doi Kaeoดอยแก้ว95,459
9.Mae Soiแม่สอย159,062

Missing numbers are tambon which now form Doi Lo district.

Local administration

There are 6 subdistrict municipalities (Thesaban Tambon) in the district:

There is one subdistrict administrative organization (SAO) in the district:

References

  1. "Population statistics 2013" (in Thai). Department of Provincial Administration. Retrieved 2014-11-19.

External links