U Thong ( th, อู่ทอง, ) is the district (''
amphoe
An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', th, อำเภอ, )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the provinces, and are analogous to countie ...
'') 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
The Dvaravati ( th, ทวารวดี ; ) was an ancient Mon kingdom from the 7th century to the 11th century that was located in the region now known as central Thailand. It was described by the Chinese pilgrim in the middle of the 7th ce ...
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
A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional im ...
. The site includes a moat, 1,690 by 840 m, and the Pra Paton
caitya.
[
It also became the origin of the ]Ayutthaya Kingdom
The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...
, 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.
Administration
Central administration
U Thong district is divided into 13 sub-districts (''tambon
''Tambon'' ( th, ตำบล, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province (''changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' ...
s''), which are further subdivided into 154 administrative villages (''muban
Muban ( th, หมู่บ้าน; , ) is the lowest administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74,944 administrative mu ...
s'').
Local administration
There are nine sub-district municipalities (''thesaban tambon
Thesaban ( th, เทศบาล, , ) are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the ''thesaban'' system.
The mu ...
s'') 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
{{Amphoe Suphan Buri
U Thong
King U-thongThe Royal Institute. List of monarchs Ayutthaya''. ( th, พระเจ้าอู่ทอง) or King Ramathibodi I ( th, สมเด็จพระรามาธิบดีที่ ๑ ; 1314–1369) was the first king of ...