Phrasaeng District
| Phrasaeng พระแสง | |
|---|---|
| Amphoe | |
 Amphoe location in Surat Thani Province | |
| Coordinates: 8°34′6″N 99°14′54″E / 8.56833°N 99.24833°ECoordinates: 8°34′6″N 99°14′54″E / 8.56833°N 99.24833°E | |
| Country |
 Thailand |
| Province | Surat Thani |
| Seat | I-pan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 950.0 km2 (366.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 63,774 |
| • Density | 63.7/km2 (165/sq mi) |
| Time zone | THA (UTC+7) |
| Postal code | 84210 |
| Geocode | 8416 |
Phraseang (Thai: พระแสง) is a district (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province, Thailand.
Geography
The district is in the south of the province. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Phanom, Khian Sa, Wiang Sa of Surat Thani Province, Tham Phannara, Thung Yai of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Chai Buri of Surat Thani Province again, Khao Phanom and Plai Phraya of Krabi Province.
At the boundary to Plai Phraya is the Khlong Phraya Wildlife Sanctuary.
History
The district was first established in 1896 as part of the Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat. The following year it and neighboring Amphoe I-Pan were reduced to a tambon and put under the control of Amphoe Lamphun (the present-day Amphoe Ban Na San). In 1899 the monthon administrator Phraya Sukhumnaiwinit (Pan Sukhum) visited the area and noticed that Amphoe Lamphun was too large to administrate the area efficiently, and recreated the Phrasaeng district consisting of the tambon Phrasaeng and I-Pan. In 1906 the district was transferred to Mueang Chaiya, which is now Surat Thani Province.
Around 1940 a new district office in Ban Yan Din Daeng was built, as the old location in Ban Sai Khueng was not comfortable to reach for all of the population. Also on August 1, 1938 the district was reduced in status to a minor district (King Amphoe).[1] It was upgraded back to full district status in 1958.[2]
1968 King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his family made a royal visit to the district. On that occasion the King donated a Caterpillar D4 bulldozer to the community, to help the development of the area.
Etymology
The name of the district originates from an event which happened at the creation of the district. The government sent an official named Phrasaeng Phiram was sent to overlook the construction of the district office. When the hole for the foundation was dug, a sword was found, which due to its unusual shape was identified as a royal sword. Named Phrasaeng Dab (Thai พระแสงดาบ) it was kept in the district office and gave its name to the district. However, the sword has been lost now, so it is unsure whether this story is based on a real story or just a legend.
Administration
The district is subdivided into 7 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 74 villages (muban). There are two subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon) - Bang Sawan covers parts of tambon Bang Sawan, and Yan Din Daeng parts of tambon I-pan. There are further 7 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO), responsible for the non-municipal areas.
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References
- http://cddweb.cdd.go.th/phrasaeng/ (Thai only)
- ↑ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง ยกฐานะกิ่งอำเภอท่าฉางเป็นอำเภอและยุบอำเภอพระแสงลงเป็นกิ่งอำเภอ. Royal Gazette (in Thai) 55 (0 ง): 1321–1322. August 1, 1938.
- ↑ พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งอำเภอกระสัง.... Royal Gazette (in Thai) 75 (55 ก): 321–327. July 22, 1958.
- ↑ "Population statistics 2008". Department of Provincial Administration.
External links
- amphoe.com (Thai)