Amphoe Sam Khok

Infobox Amphoe
name=Sam Khok
thai=สามโคก
province=Pathum Thani
coordinates=coord|14|3|55|N|100|31|21|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
area=94.967
population=48,927
population_as_of=2005
density=515
postal_code=12160
geocode=1307

Sam Khok ( _th. สามโคก) is a district ("Amphoe") in the northern part of Pathum Thani Province, central Thailand.

History

"Mueang" Sam Khok is an ancient city, first found in the records after the reign of King Boromma Trailokanat. In 1660, a group of Mon people lead by Sming Poe migrated to Ayutthaya because they were suppressed by the Burmese rulership in their homeland. King Narai the Great provided the area of Mueang Sam Khok for them to established new town. Later a further immigration of Mon people to Thailand happened in the reign of King Taksin the Great in 1774 and King Rama II in 1815. Some of them settled at Sam Khok, others moved to Pak Kret, Nonthaburi Province and Phra Pa Daeng, Samut Prakan Province.

According to the local history, when King Rama II visited Sam Kok the local Mon people gave him a big quantity of lotus. The king then renamed the city name to be Pathum Thani, meaning City of Lotus. At the same time, the king upgraded the city to be the 3rd class city .

King Chulalongkorn changed status of the city to be Amphoe Sam Khok in 1898.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Lat Bua Luang and Bang Sai of Ayutthaya Province, and Khlong Luang, Mueang Pathum Thani and Lat Lum Kaeo of Pathum Thani Province.

The district is crossed by the Chao Phraya river.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 11 subdistricts ("tambon", which are further subdivided into 58 villages ("muban"). Bang Toei has township ("thesaban tambon") status and covers part of the "tambon" Bang Toei. Each of the "tambon" has a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).