Bang Chang (, ) is a subdistrict (''

tambon ''Tambon'' (, ) 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'' of Bangkok, whi ...

'') of Amphawa district,

Samut Songkhram province Samut Songkhram (, ) is one of the central Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from the south clockwise) Phetchaburi province, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi province, Ratchaburi and Samut Sakhon pr ...

central Thailand Central Thailand (Central Plain) (historically also known as Siam or Dvaravati) is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand (Isan) by the Phetchabun Mount ...

History

Bang Chang's history dates to the

Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...

. During that time, Bang Chang was the name of entirety Samut Songkhram province, its area covered to parts of Bang Khonthi and

Mueang Samut Songkhram district Mueang Samut Songkhram (, ) is the capital district ('' amphoe mueang'') of Samut Songkhram province, central Thailand. History The district was established in 1897, then named Lom Thuan and controlled by Monthon Ratchaburi. In 1900 the district o ...

s with Damnoen Saduak district in

Ratchaburi province Ratchaburi province (, ) or Rat Buri () is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (''changwat'') lies in Western Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and ...

as well. Between Ayutthaya to early Rattanakosin periods, Bang Chang was dubbed "Suan Nok" (outer garden), paired with "Suan Nai" (inner garden) or

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

. Because they have a very similar terrain, which was filled with orchards and there was many watercourses flowing through both areas. Bang Chang has long been known for being an area for agriculture, especially

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

. Its name "Bang Chang" meaning "place of

elephant Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant ('' Loxodonta africana''), the African forest elephant (''L. cyclotis''), and the Asian elephant ('' Elephas maximus ...

s", because it used to be a habitat for many herd of wild elephants and was also a hideout for the

white elephant A white elephant is a possession that its owner cannot dispose of without extreme difficulty, and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. In modern usage, it is a metaphor used to describe an object, ...

s. Until the establishment of Amphawa district officially, Bang Chang were reduced to subdistrict and changed the name to "Pak Ngam" (ปากง่าม), consisting of 12 administrative villages. In the year 1941, its name therefore changed again to Bang Chang in accordance with the original name. Khun Bang Chang (ขุนบางช้าง) was the first head of the subdistrict. Bang Chang was also the birthplace of

Amarindra Amarindra (, , ; 15 March 1737 – 25 May 1826) was the queen consort of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the founder of the Chakri dynasty. Her birth name was Nak (นาค). She was a daughter of a wealthy Mon from Bang Chang, in Samut ...

, the Queen Consort of King

Phutthayotfa Chulalok Phutthayotfa Chulalok (born Thongduang; 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), also known by his regnal name Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom (now Thailand) and the first King of Siam from the reigning Chakri dynasty. He asce ...

(Rama I), and the mother of King

Phutthaloetla Naphalai Phutthaloetla Naphalai (born Chim; 24 February 1767 or 1768 – 21 July 1824), also known by his regnal name Rama II, was the second King of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 1809 to 1824. In 1809, Itsarasunthon succeeded his father ...

(Rama II). She was also the origin of the royal family surname na Bang Chang (ณ บางช้าง).

Geography

The lowland area has a majority of

horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

. Neighboring subdistricts are (from the north clockwise): Bang Phrom of Bang Khonthi district, Khlong Khoen and Ban Prok of Mueang Samut Songkhram district, Amphawa and Khwae Om in its district. Bang Chang is located 8 km (4.97 mi) from the downtown Samut Songkhram.

Economy

Most Bang Chang residents work in agriculture.

Administration

Provincial government

The administration of Bang Chang subdistrict is responsible for an area that covers 2,745 rai ~ and consists of nine villages (''muban''), as of December 2023: 4,531 people and 1,874 households. 250px, Map of Amphawa district
Bang Chang is no. 6

Local government

Bang Chang is administered by the Bang Chang subdistrict administrative organization - SAO (''ongkan borihan suan tambon - o bo to''), which covers the whole subdistrict.

Healthcare

There are Bang Chang and Wat Daowadung health-promoting hospitals in Moo5 and Moo6.

Temples

The following active temples, where

Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' ( anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or '' Dhamma'' in ...

is practised by local residents:

Local products

* Traditional Thai sweets *Benjarong (traditional five-coloured Thai ceramics) *Bang Chang bird's eye chilli *Shredded tobacco

References

Tambon of Samut Songkhram province {{Coord, 13, 25, 59.3, N, 99, 58, 06.2, E, region:TH_type:landmark, display=title