Nakhon Thai (, ) is a district (amphoe) in the eastern part of Phitsanulok province, lower northern region of Thailand. Its old town, ringed by three earthen walls, is dated by one account to 1188.
Geography Neighboring districts are (from the southwest clockwise), Wang Thong and Chat Trakan of Phitsanulok Province; Na Haeo and Dan Sai of Loei province; and Khao Kho of Phetchabun province.
Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park is in Nakhon Thai District.
Nakhon Thai lies within the Nan Basin, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The Khwae Noi River flows through the district, as well as the lesser Fia (Thai: ลำน้ำเฟี้ย) and Kaem (Thai: ลำน้ำแขม) Rivers.
History The earliest date given for Nakhon Thai, 1188, comes from Simon de La Loubère, who recorded from informants at Ayutthaya that the ancestors of King Uthong had lived there from that year. The Luang Prasert chronicle records the founding of Nakhon Thai in 1477, although it has families fleeing Nakhon Thai for Nan in 1462.
The old town has three earthen walls with moats between them, and traces of settlement lie on the nearby hills and in caves. Lopburi-style Buddha images found there include unfinished pieces, which Sujit Wongthes takes as evidence that they were made in the town.
Administration
Provincial government The district is divided into 11 subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 145 villages (mubans), as of 2025: 84,491 people of 34,247 families. No Subdistrict Population Villages 1 Nakhon Thai 8,591 13 2 Nong Kathao 15,930 27 3 Ban Yaeng 10,091 13 4 Noen Phoem 12,312 19 5 Na Bua 7,701 15 6 Nakhon Chum 2,903 8 7 Nam Kum 2,358 7 8 Yang Klon 4,768 10 9 Bo Pho 6,765 13 10 Ban Phrao 6,016 10 11 Huai Hia 7,056 10 Total population 84,491 145
Local government There are two subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon), Ban Yaeng and Nakhon Thai municipalities cover the whole same-named subdistrict.
Subdistrict municipality Population Ban Yaeng 10,091 Nakhon Thai 8,591
Further there are nine subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO) that cover the whole same-named subdistrict.
Temples There are 23 Buddhist temples in Nakhon Thai.
Economy Nakhon Thai is a district on the outskirts of Phitsanulok province, more than 80% of which is reserved forest area.
Therefore, Nakhon Thai and two neighboring districts, Chat Trakan and Wat Bot, have the lowest prosperity index in Phitsanulok, lowest household income and highest household debt.หน้า 6, ไก่–ศุภกปรณ์ กิตยาธิคุณ พิษณุโลก ก้าวไกล ลุยปลดล็อกปัญหาที่ดิน. Matichon issues 16540 vol.46 Saturday, June 24, 2023
References