Phra Pradaeng (, ) is a district (amphoe) of Samut Prakan province in Thailand.
History Phra Pradeang was the original center of the area south of Bangkok near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. Walailak Songsiri traces the name to the Khmer royal style kamrateng. The word became an official rank, recorded in the Three Seals Law as phadaeng (), pha-daeng () and pa-daeng (), and passed by way of the name of an excavated image into the name of the port and frontier town. She places the town as a frontier post older than Ramathibodi I, at the point where Khlong Samrong was cut through to Khlong Thap Nang and the Bang Pakong River, opening an inland route to the coast and the eastern towns. Originally named Nakhon Khuean Khan (นครเขื่อนขันธ์), it was settled by Mon people. In 1815, King Rama II built the Pom Phlaeng Faifa Fort at the river's bend. The fort is now a small park and is accessible to visitors.
In 1819, the new town Mueang Samut Prakan (or Paknam) was established. Due to economic problems in the early-1930s, several administrative entities were abolished, including Phra Phradaeng Province, which had its districts assigned to Samut Prakan and Thonburi effective 1 April 1932.
A two kilometre tramway across the neck of the Phra Pradaeng river bend opened in 1908 and closed c. 1940. Operated by a private company, the motorised trams connected with motorboat services to Bangkok and to Paknam at each end of the line. The tram cut a considerable time off the up and downriver journey by avoiding the long river bend.
Administration The district is divided into 15 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 67 villages (mubans). The town (thesaban mueang) Phra Pradaeng covers the tambon Talat, the town Lat Luang, the tambon Bang Phueng, Bang Chak, and Bang Kharu. The town (thesaban mueang) Pu Chao Saming Phrai administers tambons Samrong Tai, Samrong, Samron Klang, Bang Hua Suea, and Bang Ya Phraek. There are six tambon administrative organizations (TAO) for the tambon not covered by the municipalities. No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.1.Talatตลาด-9,5012.Bang Phuengบางพึ่ง-24,515 3.Bang Chakบางจาก-22,2814.Bang Khruบางครุ-26,1295.Bang Ya Phraekบางหญ้าแพรก-21,3396.Bang Hua Sueaบางหัวเสือ-12,4277.Samrong Taiสำโรงใต้-13,0078.Bang Yoบางยอ1011,3079.Bang Kachaoบางกะเจ้า95,16110.Bang Nam Phuengบางน้ำผึ้ง114,90411.Bang Krasopบางกระสอบ112,89212.Bang Ko Buaบางกอบัว137,23513.Song Khanongทรงคนอง137,71614.Samrongสำโรง-15,68615.Samrong Klangสำโรงกลาง-12,029
Attractions Bang Kachao Bang Nam Phueng Floating Market Si Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden
Notable people Sompote Sands, film director Chintara Sukapatana, actress
References
External links
http://www.phrapradaeng.org (Thai only)