Amphoe Khanom

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Khanom
thai=ขนอม
province=Nakhon Si Thammarat
capital=Khanom
coordinates=coord|9|12|17|N|99|51|40|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
area=433.926
population=27,572
population_as_of=2005
density=63.5
postal_code=80210
geocode=8015

Khanom ( _th. ขนอม) is the northernmost district ("Amphoe") of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand.

Geography

The district is located in the north of the province. To the west is Surat Thani Province, while to the north and east is the Gulf of Thailand. Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Sichon of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Don Sak of Surat Thani.

Most of the coast line of district will be protected as part of the Hat Khanom - Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, which is currently in process of creation. The coast of the district consists of a series of beaches nestled among the limestone and shale mountains of northern Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range. Nai Plao Beach is the most popular of these beaches. Several caves are found in the hills, the most famous one is Khao Wang Thong cave . The major hills within the districts are Khao Luang (814 m), Khao Phlao and Khao Dat Fa (732 m) at the southeastern boundary to Sichon, and Khao Chai Son (535 m) adjacent Khanom town at the Khanom Bay, the mouth of Khlong Khanom .

The main road is Highway 401, which passes through the southwestern part of the district. Route 4014 connects the district center which that highway, while 4142 connects the center with Don Sak.

History

Back in 1365 a first town ("mueang") named Tranom (ตระนอม) was established, which was a subordinate of Nakhon Si Thammarat. During the "thesaphiban" administrative reforms of the early 20th century it became a "tambon" within the Sichon district. [ [http://www.geocities.com/khanom_cdd123/htm1.htm www.geocities.com/khanom_cdd123] ] On March 1 1939 it was made a minor district ("King Amphoe"), consisting of the two "tambon" Khanom and Thong Nian. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=55|issue=0 ง|pages=3875|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ตั้งกิ่งอำเภอขนอม ขึ้นอำเภอสิชล จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2481/D/3875.PDF|date=February 20 1939|language=Thai] . The minor district was upgraded to a full district on December 11 1959. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=76|issue=113 ก special |pages=8–11|title=พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอชุมพวง อำเภอเชียงยืน อำเภอแก้งคร้อ อำเภอสำโรงทาบ อำเภอคอนสาร อำเภอเซกา อำเภอทุ่งเสลี่ยม อำเภอบ้านด่าน อำเภอขนอม อำเภอบ้านแพรก อำเภอกระทู้ และอำเภอคลองใหญ่ พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๒|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2502/A/113/8.PDF|date=December 10 1959|language=Thai]

The third "tambon" Khuan Thong was created on December 25 1963 with three "muban" from Thong Nian and two from Khanom. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=81|issue=2 ง|pages=21|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ตั้งและเปลี่ยนแปลงเขตตำบลในท้องที่อำเภอขนอม จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2507/D/002/21.PDF|date=January 7 1964|language=Thai]

The sanitary district ("sukhaphiban") Khanom was established on December 28 1945, which was officially gazetteered on January 28 1957. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=74|issue=103 ง special |pages=26–29|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง จัดตั้งสุขาภิบาลขนอม กิ่งอำเภอขนอม อำเภอสิชล จังหวัดนครศรีธรรมราช|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2500/D/010/26.PDF|date=January 28 1957|language=Thai] On May 25 1999 it was converted to a township ("thesaban tambon"), as all the sanitary districts were upgraded to a municipality. [ [http://www.khanomcity.go.th/history.php www.khanomcity.go.th] ]

Wat Kradangnga is the oldest Buddhist temple of the district, dating back to the Ayutthaya era.

Education

There are two high schools - Khanom Phitthaya High School and Thong Nian Khana Phi Ban High School - and a campus of the Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 3 subdistricts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 34 villages ("muban"). Khanom itself has subdistrict municipality ("thesaban tambon") status and covers part of "tambon" Khanom - village 1 and parts of village 3, altogether an area of 1.76 km². The whole "tambon" Thong Nian forms another subdistrict municipality. The non-municipal area of "tambon" Khanom and Khuan Thong are each administrated by a Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

References

External links

* [http://www.amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=256&pv=21 amphoe.com]
* [http://www.khanom.go.th Website of Khanom TAO]
* [http://www.khanomcity.go.th Website of Khanom township]