Amphoe Phrasaeng

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Phrasaeng
thai=พระแสง
province=Surat Thani
coordinates=coord|8|34|6|N|99|14|54|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
capital=I-pan
area=950.0
population=60,512
population_as_of=2005
density=63.7
postal_code=84210
geocode=8416

Phraseang ( _th. พระแสง) is a district ("amphoe") of Surat Thani Province, Thailand.

Geography

The district is located in the south of the province. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Phanom, Khian Sa, Wiang Sa of Surat Thani Province, Tham Phannara, Thung Yai of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Chai Buri of Surat Thani Province again, Khao Phanom and Plai Phraya of Krabi Province.

At the boundary to Plai Phraya is the Khlong Phraya Wildlife Sanctuary.

History

The district was first established in 1896 as part of the Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat. The following year it and neighboring Amphoe I-Pan were reduced to a "tambon" and put under the control of Amphoe Lamphun (the present-day Amphoe Ban Na San). In 1899 the monthon administrator Phraya Sukhumnaiwinit (Pan Sukhum) visited the area and noticed that Amphoe Lamphun was too large to administrate the area efficiently, and recreated the Phrasaeng district constiting of the tambon Phrasaeng and I-Pan. In 1906 the district was transferred to Mueang Chaiya, which is now Surat Thani Province.

Around 1940 a new district office in Ban Yan Din Daeng was built, as the old location in Ban Sai Khueng was not comfortable to reach for all of the population. Also on August 1 1938 the district was reduced in status to a minor district ("King Amphoe") [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=55|issue=0 ง|pages=1321–1322|title=ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง ยกฐานะกิ่งอำเภอท่าฉางเป็นอำเภอและยุบอำเภอพระแสงลงเป็นกิ่งอำเภอ|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2481/D/1321.PDF|date=August 1 1938|language=Thai] . It was upgraded back to full district status in 1958. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=75|issue=55 ก|pages=321–327|title=พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งอำเภอกระสัง...|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2501/A/055/321.PDF|date=July 22 1958|language=Thai]

1968 King Bhumipol and his family made a royal visit to the district. On that occasion the King donated a Caterpillar D4 bulldozer to the community, to help the development of the area.

Etymology

The name of the district originates from an event which happened at the creation of the district. The government sent an official named Phrasaeng Phiram was sent to overlook the construction of the district office. When the hole for the foundaion was dug, a sword was found, which due to its unusual shape was identified as a royal sword. Named "Phrasaeng Dab" (Thai พระแสงดาบ) it was kept in the district office and gave its name to the district. However, the sword has been lost now, so it is unsure whether this story is based on a real story or just a legend.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 7 subdistricts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 73 villages ("muban"). There are two subdistrict municipalities ("thesaban tambon") - Bang Sawan covers parts of "tambon" Bang Sawan, and Yan Din Daeng parts of "tambon" I-pan. There are further 7 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO), responsible for the non-municipal areas.

References

*http://cddweb.cdd.go.th/phrasaeng/ (Thai only)

External links

* [http://amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=708&pv=66 amphoe.com]