Fang District

Fang (Thai: ฝาง, pronounced [fǎːŋ]) is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand.

Fang

ฝาง
District
Royal Agricultural Station at Doi Ang Khang
District location in Chiang Mai Province
Coordinates: 19°55′8″N 99°12′49″E
CountryThailand
ProvinceChiang Mai
SeatFang (town)
Area
 • Total888.164 km2 (342.922 sq mi)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total231,544
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code50110
Geocode5009

History

According to the Yonok chronicle, Mueang Fang was built in 641 by King Lawa Changkarat. Later, King Mengrai the Great ruled over Fang before building Wiang Kumkam and Chiang Mai as successive capitals of the Lanna Kingdom, beginning in 1294.[1] Prior to the new capitals, Mengrai had used Mueang Fang as a base to invade Hariphunchai.[2]

In 1910, Mueang Fang was made part of Chiang Rai Province, and named Mueang Fang District.[3] In 1925 it was reassigned to Chiang Mai Province.[4] In 1938 the word mueang was dropped from the name, which was then reserved for capital districts of the provinces.[5]

Etymology

The landscape of Mueang Fang looked like the seed of a fang tree (Caesalpinia sappan). The town was named after this tree.

Geography
View from Rte 1340, Daen Lao Range, Fang Valley

Neighboring districts are (from the northeast, clockwise) Mae Ai of Chiang Mai Province, Mae Suai of Chiang Rai Province, Chai Prakan of Chiang Mai Province, and Shan State of Myanmar. The Fang River, a tributary of the Kok River, gives its name to the district.

Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is in Fang District. The Daen Lao Range runs through the district's north and west, and the Khun Tan Range begins in the south of the district.

Administration

The district is divided into eight subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 128 villages (mubans). There are two townships (thesaban tambons): Wiang Fang covers parts of tambon Wiang, and Ban Mae Kha parts of tambon Mae Kha. There are a further eight tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.
1.Wiangเวียง1926,810
3.Mon Pinม่อนปิ่น2219,123
4.Mae Ngonแม่งอน1817,715
5.Mae Sunแม่สูน1715,019
6.San Saiสันทราย1711,583
10.Mae Khaแม่คะ1514,542
11.Mae Khaแม่ข่า139,873
12.Pong Nam Ronโป่งน้ำร้อน76,368

Missing numbers are tambons which now form Chai Prakan District.

See also

References
  1. The Chiang Mai Chronicle 2nd Edition, tr. David K. Wyatt and Aroonrut Wichienkeeo, Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 1998, p18 ISBN 978-974-7100-62-4
  2. Ongsakul, Sarassawadee, History of Lan Na, trans. Chitraporn Tanratanakul, Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, Thai text 2001, English text 2005, p.55 ISBN 978-974-9575-84-0
  3. ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 27 (0 ง): 426–427. 12 Jun 1910.
  4. ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง โอนอำเภอเมืองฝาง จังหวัดเชียงรายไปขึ้นจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 42 (0 ง): 203. 26 Apr 1925.
  5. พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามจังหวัด และอำเภอบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๑ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 55 (0 ก): 658–666. 14 Nov 1938.
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