Administrative divisions of Thailand

Though, formally, Thailand is separated into three levels: provinces, districts, and sub-districts, there are also informal divisions such as parimonthon, and phak.

A notable difference from history was during the post-Franco-Siamese crisis period when there was a DMZ around the border which falls on the Mekong river.

[citation needed] Most provinces date back to the time of subservient city-states, chiefdoms, and even vassal kingdoms.

But when the western colonial powers started to eye the region, The Siamese government took to reform their administrative division into a form that much resembles the modern structure.

By, 1892, much of the divisions had already been formed, though this is far from modern Thailand's divisional structure, and by 1900 most of the territory gained during the rule of Rama III were lost to France and Britain.

[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] (Thai Name) or Native Names บางละมุง Ban Na Kleua ไชยา Khri กะบิ่นบุรี (กระบินทร์บุรี) Dan Nu Man คีรีรัฐนิคม Tha Khanon กระบุรี Tra หลังสวน Klang Suan หล่มสัก Wat Pa มีนบุรี Thongna Kwangyai พนัสนิคม Phra Rot พนมสารคาม Dong Yang พยุหะคีรี Ban Phayu Daen พระนคร Chana Songkhram Bang Kok พรหมบุรี Phrom Nakhon พระประแดง Nakhon Kheuan Khan สรรคบุรี Phraek Siracha Trai Treung ศรีเทพ Aphai Sali ตะกั่วป่า Taloka ตะกั่วทุ่ง Kra Phunga ธัญบุรี Rangsit ธนบุรีศรีมหาสมุทร Bang Kok วิเชียรบุรี Tha Rong (Thai Name) (Local/Original Names) เชียงแขง Weng Keng Cheng อุทัย Lan Chang ล้านช้าง Paklay (Thai Name) (Local/Original Names) อัตตะปือ Atkapu บริคัณฑ์นิคม Paxoumphanalai ไชยบุรี Paknam Songkham เชียงขวาง Phouan ชนบท (ບຶງແກ້ວ) (Bungkeo) เดชอุดม (ໂດມໃຫຍ່) (Domnyai) กมลาสัย Sapouadongmakhamkao คำเกิด Khamkeut คำม่วน Khammouan คำทองหลวง Kengareum เขมราฐ (เขมราฐธานี) Khokkongdongphaniang คอนสาร Khonsan ขุขันธ์ (คุขันธ์) Pasat Siliam พระตะบอง Badthumbang นางรอง Nahong นอง Nong หนองหาร (หนองละหาร) Nonghannoy โพนพิสัย Phonpheng ภูแล่นช้าง Phoudenxang พุทไธสง Makfuang Houahet ประโคนชัย (ตะลุง) Taloumdo ตลุง Talung รัตนบุรี Muang Si Nakhon Tao สาละวัน Muangman สังขะ (สังฆะ) Khokachcha สุวรรณภูมิ Siphum ท่าอุเทน Thabungou วัง Vang (Thai Name) (Local/Original Names) เชียงแตง Stoengtrang พนมสก Phnomsrok นครจัมปาศักดิ์ Muang Khandeung พระตะบอง Badthumbang ประจันตคีรีเขตร Khemaraphoumin แสนปาง Siempang เสียมราฐ Siemreab ศรีโสภณ Serisaophoan สี่ตันดอน Muang Khong (Thai Name) (Local/Original Names) กลันตัน 1943 1945 หนองจิก (Tawar/Nuachi) ปะเหลียน (Tanjong Sala) ปะลิส 1943 1945 ระแงะ รามัน สายบุรี ไทรบุรี 1943 1945 ตรังกานู 1943 1945 ยะหริ่ง Amphoe (Thai: อำเภอ) or districts are the second level of administration.

They are led by a Nai Amphoe (Thai: นายอำเภอ) or district chief who is appointed by the central government.

[22] At this time, the method for determining the area of an amphoe was to assign 10,000 citizens to a district.

Previously, another administrative division called king amphoe (Thai: กิ่งอำเภอ) or minor districts was in use.

Tambon are responsible for the economic, societal, and cultural development of the area, organizing public services for the benefit of the people of their own locality.

In cities, the term chumchon (Thai: ชุมชน) is used, although this is an unofficial title and is unrelated to the central government.

or corridors and public places Including the disposal of solid waste and sewage, and prevent and suppress contagious diseases.

[26] Originally thesaban were sanitation districts called sukhaphiban (Thai: สุขาภิบาล) created to manage waste.

Currently, there are plans to make Chiang Mai and Mae Sot a special local administrative area.

[27] Though the plans for Chiang Mai is controversial due to the extreme centralization of the government.

A recent bill passed in 2005 and withdrawn in 2007 proposed a new province, Nakhon Suvarnabhumi, and was planned to be structured as a special local administrative area.

[28] Phak (Thai: ภาค) refers to the grouping of multiple provinces with regard to history, culture, and geography.

There are ten types of phak divisions: 6-regions, 5-4-regions, meteorological, tourism, economic, highway, landlines, postal, electoral, and scouts.

The Isan region resembles the old territory annexed from the Kingdom of Vientiane and Champassak.

The southern region resembles the former territories of the Malay sultanates and the Kingdom of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

[29] During the reign of Rama III, there was a massive settlement effort, in which many city and town were created during this time.

Monthon (Thai: มณฑล) were administrative subdivisions of Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century.

The monthon were created as a part of the Thesaphiban[32] (เทศาภิบาล, literally "local government") bureaucratic administrative system, introduced by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab which, together with the monthon, established step-by-step today's present provinces (changwat), districts (amphoe), and communes (tambon) throughout Thailand.

New sanitary district were again established starting in 1952 by prime minister Phibun Songkhram.

Nonetheless, these states deserve a mention which is due to the fact that they are an entity within a certain polity.

Describing past vassals of Thailand requires the understanding of the mandala system.

In history this was seen even when the Kingdom of Vientiane, a vassal, rebelled and lost which then was dissolved and absorbed into the central state.

Compared with the less amicable, aforementioned, Kingdom of Vientiane, which started a rebellion in 1826 under King Anouvong (Xaiya Setthathirath V).

[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Principality of Keng Tung Meuang Chiang Tung Federation of 12 Thai Cantons Sipsong Panna Laos China Canton of Chiang Lap Muang Chiang Lab Myanmar Principality of Chiang Khaeng Chiang Khaeng Kingdom of Sukhothai Anachak Sukhothai Principality of Thoen Meuang Thoen Kingdom of Chiang Mai Nakhon Chiang Mai Principality of Lampang Nakhon Meuang Lampang Principality of Nan Nakhon Meuang Nan Principality of Lamphun Nakhon Lamphun Principality of Phrae Meuang Phrae Kingdom of Nakhon Si Thammarat Anachak Nakhon Si Thammarat Sultanate of Kedah Anachak Koeda Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara Racha Anachak Seotun Kingdom of Perlis Anachak Palit Kingdom of Kubang Pasu Darul Qiyam Anachak Kubang Pasu Sultanate of Patani Anachak Pattani Kingdom of Rahman Anachak Raman Sultanate of Terengganu Anachak Trangkanu Kingdom of Besut Darul Iman Anachak Boesut Sultanate of Kelantan Anachak Klantan Kingdom of Cambodia Anachak Kampucha Ha Tien Protectorate Meuang Phutthaimat Principality of Si Phum Muang Si Phum Kingdom of Champasak Anachak Champasak Cambodia Principality of Don Mot Daeng Muang Don Mot Daeng Kingdom of Vientiane Anachak Viengchan Principality of Phuan Muang Phuan Federation of the Six Hua Phan Cantons Hua Phan Thang Ha Thang Hok Kingdom of Luang Prabang Anachak Luang Phrabang Principality of Phongsali Muang Phongsali Federation of the 12 Tai Cantons* Sipsong Ju Thai Kingdom of Hanthawaddy Arnajak Hongsawadi *Twelve Cantons were actually composed of twelve to sixteen different cantons.

This could be either that the central government gave an order, or an independent action acted upon by the individual muang prathetsarat.