Sam Phran (Thai: สามพราน, pronounced [sǎːm pʰrāːn]) is the southernmost district (amphoe) of Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand.

Sam Phran
สามพราน
Tha Chin river in the area of Don Wai floating market
Tha Chin river in the area of Don Wai floating market
District location in Nakhon Pathom province
District location in Nakhon Pathom province
Coordinates: 13°43′27″N 100°13′0″E / 13.72417°N 100.21667°E / 13.72417; 100.21667
CountryThailand
ProvinceNakhon Pathom
SeatSam Phran
Area
 • Total
249.347 km2 (96.273 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total
208,836
 • Density837.53/km2 (2,169.2/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code73110
Geocode7306

History

edit

The district was established in 1896, then named Talat Mai District. It was renamed Sam Phran in 1917.[1]

The name Sam Phran, meaning 'three hunters', refers to the three hunters according to local folklore about the construction of Phra Pathom Chedi.[2]

The district was the site of the Kader Toy Factory fire in 1993, the worst industrial factory fire in history. The factory was owned by the Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, a Thai transnational corporation and one of Asia's largest agribusiness firms.

Geography

edit

The district is elongated in an east-west direction and neighbouring districts are (from the north clockwise) Mueang Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Chai Si, and Phutthamonthon of Nakhon Pathom Province, Thawi Watthana district and Nong Khaem of Bangkok, Krathum Baen and Ban Phaeo of Samut Sakhon province, and Bang Phae of Ratchaburi province.

The main water resource of the district is the large Tha Chin River or Nakhon Chai Si River which meanders through the district in a southeasterly direction.

Sam Phran district has evolved as a ribbon development of tambons (sub-districts) along Phetkasem Road, a major thoroughfare linking Bangkok with the cities of Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi.

Economy

edit

The district is the site of two Wai Wai noodle factories, one each in Om Yai and Rai Khing.[3] Foodstar, which makes the fruit juice brand DeeDo, is based in the district's Talat Chinda subdistrict [Wikidata].[4][5]

The Tha Kham Sub-district (usually written Takham), is the centre of the Roman Catholic Christian religion in Thailand.[citation needed] Michael Michai Kitbunchu, Cardinal of Thailand, was born in Sam Phran and many Catholic religious institutes have their convents, monasteries, and headquarters in the area as well as Thailand's major seminary. The largest and most important installation in the Catholic enclave of Tha Kham is the campus shared by Joseph Upatham School, one of the largest combined kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools in the country. It is one of the 43 schools and colleges governed by the Education Department of Bangkok Archdiocese (EDBA). The Ban Phu Waan Pastoral Training Centre, a leading Catholic conference and convention centre is also here. There are several other large private schools in Tak Kham including St. Peter's school (mixed gender, grades K–9) also governed by the EDBA in the parish of St. Peter, and Marie Upatham, an independent Catholic school for girls in the Tha Kham village of Mor Sii.[citation needed]

Sam Phran is the site of the National Police Academy and numerous other colleges including St. Joseph Intertechnology College, a Catholic vocational school and teacher training centre also governed by the EDBA.[citation needed]

Administration

edit

The district is divided into 16 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 137 villages (mubans). Sam Phran is a town (thesaban mueang) and Om Yai a sub-district municipality (thesaban tambon). There are a further 15 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai Villages Pop.
1. Tha Kham ท่าข้าม 6 9,880
2. Song Khanong ทรงคนอง 6 4,140
3. Hom Kret หอมเกร็ด 6 8,015
4. Bang Krathuek บางกระทึก 8 9,470
5. Bang Toei บางเตย 7 4,016
6. Sam Phran สามพราน 9 12,430
7. Bang Chang บางช้าง 11 7,638
8. Rai Khing ไร่ขิง 14 22,406
9. Tha Talat ท่าตลาด 10 14,848
10. Krathum Lom กระทุ่มล้ม 9 16,398
11. Khlong Mai คลองใหม่ 7 11,326
12. Talat Chinda ตลาดจินดา 11 7,397
13. Khlong Chinda คลองจินดา 14 11,579
14. Yai Cha ยายชา 6 7,102
15. Ban Mai บ้านใหม่ 5 9,142
16. Om Yai อ้อมใหญ่ 8 15,775

Places of interest

edit

Notable people

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนชื่ออำเภอ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 34 (ก): 40–68. April 29, 1917. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2011.
  2. ^ ตำนานสามพราน. yaicha.net (in Thai). December 31, 2006.
  3. ^ Jitpleecheep, Pitsinee (2019-03-30). "Gaining ground on its rival, one bowl at a time". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  4. ^ Factory Directory in Thailand 2024 (17 ed.). Bangkok: Comm Bangkok. 2023. p. 24. ISBN 978-616-94344-0-5. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Jitpleecheep, Pitsinee (2023-08-03). "Foodstar in B200m range makeover. Marketing campaign takes aim at youth". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  6. ^ "Wat Sam Phran". Forever Vacation. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
edit