U Thong district

U Thong (อู่ทอง, ) is the district (amphoe) in the western part of Suphan Buri province, north of Bangkok.

History




Higham states, "U-Thong was occupied for many centuries prior to the development of the Dvaravati state. Radiocarbon determinations from the sites of U-Thong and Chansen suggest that the transition into complex state societies in the Chao Phraya basin took place between about 300-600 AD." A copper inscription from the mid-7th century states, "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.

It also became the origin of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, as the first King of Ayutthaya, Ramathibodi, was prince of U Thong when the city was struck by an epidemic, prompting him to relocate east and found Ayutthaya.

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.



Central administration
U Thong district is divided into 13 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 154 administrative villages (mubans).

Local administration
There are nine sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons) in the district:
 * Chorakhe Sam Phan (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลจรเข้สามพัน) consists of sub-district Chorakhe Sam Phan.
 * Chedi (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลเจดีย์) consists of sub-district Chedi.
 * Sa Yai Som (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลสระยายโสม) consists of parts of the sub-district Sa Yai Som.
 * U Thong (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลอู่ทอง) consists of parts of the sub-district U Thong.
 * Khun Phat Pheng (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลขุนพัดเพ็ง) consists of parts of the sub-district Sa Yai Som.
 * Ban Don (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลบ้านดอน) consists of sub-district Ban Don.
 * Ban Khong (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลบ้านโข้ง) consists of sub-district Ban Khong.
 * Krachan (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลกระจัน) consists of sub-district, Krachan.
 * Thao U Thong (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลท้าวอู่ทอง) consists of parts of sub-district U Thong.

There are six sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in the district:
 * Yung Thalai (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลยุ้งทะลาย) consists of sub-district Yung Thalai.
 * Don Makluea (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลดอนมะเกลือ) consists of sub-district Don Makluea.
 * Nong Ong (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลหนองโอ่ง) consists of sub-district Nong Ong.
 * Don Kha (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลดอนคา) consists of sub-district Don Kha.
 * Phlapphla Chai (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลพลับพลาไชย) consists of sub-district Phlapphla Chai.
 * Sa Phang Lan (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลสระพังลาน) consists of sub-district Sa Phang Lan.