U Thong (, ) is a district (amphoe) in the western part of Suphan Buri province, north of Bangkok. The ancient city of U Thong lies within it and was occupied for many centuries before the Dvaravati period. The district was created in 1905 as Chorakhe Sam Phan, renamed U Thong in 1939, and its office was moved to the ancient city in 1944.
History
Charles Higham reports that U Thong was occupied for many centuries before the Dvaravati state developed, and that radiocarbon determinations from U Thong and Chansen place the transition to complex state societies in the Chao Phraya basin between about 300 and 600 AD. A copper inscription of the mid-7th century reads, "Sri Harshavarman, grandson of Ishanavarman, having expanded his sphere of glory, obtained the lion throne through regular succession", and mentions gifts to a linga. The site includes a moat, 1,690 by 840 m, and the Pra Paton caitya. Brick collected at the ancient city is about 28 by 14 by 8 cm, was tempered with rice chaff or rice husk ash, and was made from deposits laid down by a fast river.
Damrong Rajanubhab recorded a local tradition that Ramathibodi, the first king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, ruled at U Thong until an epidemic emptied the town, and that he then moved east and founded his new capital.
U Thong district was created with the name Chorakhe Sam Phan in 1905. In 1939 the district was renamed U Thong. In 1944, the government moved the centre of the district from Ban Chorakhe Sam Phan to the area of the ancient city.
Geography Neighbouring districts are (from the north clockwise): Don Chedi, Mueang Suphan Buri, Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong of Suphan Buri province; Lao Khwan, Huai Krachao, and Phanom Thuan of Kanchanaburi province. The ancient city of U Thong stands on the west bank of the Chorakhe Sam Phan, about 30 km from the town of Suphan Buri.
Administration
Central administration U Thong district is divided into 13 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 154 administrative villages (mubans).
No. Name Thai Villages Pop.1.U Thong1123,8682.Sa Yai Som108,3523.Chorakhe Sam Phan1513,1054.Ban Don97,7105.Yung Thalai74,4976.Don Makluea124,5487.Nong Ong149,8598.Don Kha2013,2459.Phlapphla Chai1411,85410.Ban Khong148,85511.Chedi83,07612.Sa Phang Lan105,20313.Krachan107,249
Local administration There are nine sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons) in the district: Chorakhe Sam Phan (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Chorakhe Sam Phan. Chedi (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Chedi. Sa Yai Som (Thai: ) consists of parts of the sub-district Sa Yai Som. U Thong (Thai: ) consists of parts of the sub-district U Thong. Khun Phat Pheng (Thai: ) consists of parts of the sub-district Sa Yai Som. Ban Don (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Ban Don. Ban Khong (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Ban Khong. Krachan (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Krachan. Thao U Thong (Thai: ) consists of parts of sub-district U Thong.
There are six sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in the district: Yung Thalai (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Yung Thalai. Don Makluea (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Don Makluea. Nong Ong (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Nong Ong. Don Kha (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Don Kha. Phlapphla Chai (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Phlapphla Chai. Sa Phang Lan (Thai: ) consists of sub-district Sa Phang Lan.
References
External links amphoe.com