Pak Chong ปากช่อง | |
|---|---|
 Lam Takhong Reservoir | |
 District location inNakhon Ratchasima province | |
| Coordinates:14°42′45″N101°25′19″E / 14.71250°N 101.42194°E /14.71250; 101.42194 | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Nakhon Ratchasima |
| Seat | Pak Chong |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,825.2 km2 (704.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
• Total | 193,197 |
| • Density | 100/km2 (260/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
| Postal code | 30130, 30320 |
| Geocode | 3021 |
Pak Chong (Thai:ปากช่อง,pronounced[pàːktɕʰɔ̂ŋ];Northeastern Thai:ปากช่อง,pronounced[pàːksɔ̄ŋ]) is the westernmost district (amphoe) ofNakhon Ratchasima province, northeasternThailand, and the main point of entry intoIsan as the main road and rail lines cross theDong Phaya Yen Mountains into the region. It is a popular tourist destination, especially among weekenders fromBangkok, and is home to many resorts and touristy attractions, in addition to the main entrance intoKhao Yai National Park.
Up until the mid-19th century, the area of Pak Chong district andMuak Lek to its west was covered by a thick jungle known asDong Phaya Fai (later to become known as Dong Phaya Yen), through which passed an important though harshly inhospitable route through the mountains that provided access into theKhorat plateau from the town ofSara Buri.[1] The population centre of Pak Chong was originally a small village on the eastern fringe of the jungle, which, according to writings of PrinceDamrong Rajanubhab, was the farthest point carts fromKhorat could travel before needing to continue on foot through the rugged hills.[2] When theNortheastern Railway was built through the area in 1898 during the reign of KingChulalongkorn (Rama V), a cutting was made through the hills at the village, leading it to become known as Ban Pak Chong, meaning 'village at the mouth of the cutting'.[3]
At the time, the village was part of Tambon Khanong Phra of Amphoe Chan Thuek, which became renamed as Tambon Chanthuek ofAmphoe Sikhio in 1939. In 1949, Ban Pak Chong was upgraded to subdistrict (tambon) status.[3] It was upgraded to a minor district (king amphoe) effective 1 January 1957, consisting of the four subdistricts Pak Chong, Chanthuek, Klong Dan, and Mu Si.[4] It was upgraded to a full district in July 1958.[5]
The forests of Dong Phaya Yen were rapidly cleared following the construction ofMittraphap Road in 1955, which vastly opened up access to the area. Most of the land became dedicated to agriculture, particularly plantations of maize and cassava, following government incentives.[1] Only scattered forested hills remain, leading up toKhao Yai National Park on the district's southern edge, which was established as the country's first national park in 1962. Proximity to the national park would later contribute to the district's development as a tourist destination, especially in the 2000s to 2010s.
The local government of Pak Chong town was first established as a sanitary district (sukhaphiban) in 1956. It was established as a subdistrict municipality (thesaban tambon) in 1981 and became a town municipality (thesaban mueang) in 2005.
Pak Chong is the biggest district of Nakhon Ratchasima by area, at 1,825.17 square kilometres (704.70 sq mi). It is bordered by Nakhon Ratchasima's districts ofSikhio to the northeast andSung Noen,Pak Thong Chai andWang Nam Khiao to the east,Prachantakham district ofPrachin Buri province andPak Phli andMueang Nakhon Nayok districts ofNakhon Nayok province to the south, andMuak Lek ofSaraburi province to the west and northwest.
The district lies within the hills of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains, which form the southwestern boundary of theIsan region (northeastern Thailand). The district is limited in the east by theKhorat Cuesta, which forms a ridge marking the edge of theKhorat Plateau,[6] while the ridge of theSankamphaeng Mountains, covered by Khao Yai National Park, forms its southern border. The streamKhlong Muak Lek, flowing northwards from the mountains, marks its western boundary. TheLam Takhong, also originating in Khao Yai, flows northwards through the district, passing through Pak Chong town and emptying into theLam Takhong Dam reservoir in the district's northeast.
Pak Chong district is the main entry point into Isan from thecentral region, as the primary routes of both road and rail traverse the district from west to northeast through the Dong Phaya Yen pass. Pak Chong town lies slightly north of the district's physical centre, while its southern area, abutting Khao Yai National Park and generally also known as Khao Yai, has developed into a spread-out resort area. The town of Klang Dong—meaning 'middle of the jungle'—lies southwest of Pak Chong town along the road and railway, to the district's west.
| Climate data for Pak Chong, elevation 386 m (1,266 ft), (1993–2022) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.9 (85.8) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.5 (92.3) | 33.7 (92.7) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.2 (90.0) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.3 (86.5) | 30.0 (86.0) | 29.8 (85.6) | 28.9 (84.0) | 31.2 (88.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.6 (74.5) | 25.3 (77.5) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.5 (81.5) | 27.5 (81.5) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.5 (79.7) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.7 (76.5) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.9 (78.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.0 (64.4) | 19.6 (67.3) | 21.5 (70.7) | 22.8 (73.0) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.8 (74.8) | 23.4 (74.1) | 22.7 (72.9) | 22.0 (71.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 18.5 (65.3) | 21.7 (71.1) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 16.6 (0.65) | 29.7 (1.17) | 71.2 (2.80) | 115.2 (4.54) | 169.8 (6.69) | 95.2 (3.75) | 109.6 (4.31) | 141.8 (5.58) | 252.2 (9.93) | 142.8 (5.62) | 29.8 (1.17) | 14.8 (0.58) | 1,188.7 (46.79) |
| Average precipitation days | 2.5 | 3.9 | 8.0 | 12.2 | 15.7 | 14.2 | 16.0 | 17.3 | 20.1 | 13.4 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 129.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 64 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 76 | 79 | 84 | 82 | 73 | 67 | 73 |
| Source: Soil Resources Survey and Research Division[7] | |||||||||||||
The majority of the population of Pak Chong district as well as Pak Chong town are employed in agriculture, with maize being the main produce, followed by cassava. Cattle rearing forms an important industry in the district, which is one of the country's top dairy producers, along with neighbouring Muak Lek. Several factories in diverse industries including sack-weaving, electronics, rock-crushing and livestock feed production serve as a major source of employment.[8][9]
Tourism is also a large contributor to the economy, with tourists coming to visitKhao Yai National Park as well as other attractions in the widerKhao Yai area to the south of the district. Agritourism draws visitors to major farms and vineyards, Khao Yai being one of Thailand's twowine-producing regions along withHua Hin. Numerous resorts, golf clubs, cafés, art galleries and shopping centres are scattered throughout the area, many of which feature novelty European-themed architectural styles and cater to domestic tourists, mainly the Bangkok middle-class.[10] Development of holiday properties is a major driver of real estate development in the Khao Yai area.[11]
TheRoyal Thai Army's special combat training camp is in Nong Taku, Khanong Phra subdistrict. It trains five classes of 300 soldiers each per year in the 56-day training course.[12]
Mittraphap Road, designated National Highway 2, is the primary highway that carries traffic between Bangkok and the entire Isan region. It links Pak Chong westward to Muak Lek and northeastward to Sikhio. While the original route passed through the town of Pak Chong and continues to serve as its main thoroughfare, the main highway now bypasses the town to the south. The under-constructionMotorway 6, which is scheduled to open in 2022, will feature an access ramp for Pak Chong and Khao Yai on Thanarat Road (Highway 2090), the main access road linking the town to the national park's main northern entrance.
TheState Railway of Thailand'sNortheastern Line passes through the district with stations at Klang Dong, Pang Asok, Bandai Ma, Pak Chong, Sap Muang, Chanthuek and Khlong Khanan Chit,Pak Chong railway station being the only class 1 station. As of 2022, the railway is being upgraded todouble-track, along with construction of theBangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway, which will have a station at Pak Chong.
Some long-distance trains from Bangkok to Udon Thani or Nong Khai and all trains to Ubon Ratchathani stop at Pak Chong,[13][14] as well as the local trains connectingKaeng Khoi Junction withNakhon Ratchasima railway station and beyond.
Pak Chong is divided into 12 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 219 administrative villages (mubans).
| No. | Name | Thai | Villages | Pop.[15] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pak Chong | ปากช่อง | 22 | 44,059 |
| 2. | Klang Dong | กลางดง | 15 | 13,034 |
| 3. | Chanthuek | จันทึก[16] | 22 | 17,246 |
| 4. | Wang Katha | วังกะทะ | 24 | 9,580 |
| 5. | Mu Si | หมูสี | 19 | 12,759 |
| 6. | Nong Sarai | หนองสาหร่าย | 25 | 39,074 |
| 7. | Khanong Phra | ขนงพระ | 15 | 12,537 |
| 8. | Pong Talong | โป่งตาลอง | 13 | 5,217 |
| 9. | Khlong Muang | คลองม่วง | 21 | 10,379 |
| 10. | Nong Nam Daeng | หนองน้ำแดง | 11 | 10,010 |
| 11. | Wang Sai | วังไทร | 18 | 11,435 |
| 12. | Phaya Yen | พญาเย็น | 14 | 7,867 |
There is one town (thesaban mueang) in the district:
There are four sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons) in the district:
There are ninesub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in the district:
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| National | |
