# U Thong district

U Thong (Thai: อู่ทอง, pronounced) is the district (amphoe) in the western part of Suphan Buri province, north of Bangkok.

## History

Higham states, "U-Thong was occupied for many centuries prior to the development of the Dvaravati state. Radiocarbon determinations from the sites of U-Thong and Chansen suggest that the transition into complex state societies in the Chao Phraya basin took place between about 300-600 AD." A copper inscription from the mid-7th century states, "Sri Harshavarman, grandson of Ishanavarman, having expanded his sphere of glory, obtained the lion throne through regular succession," and mentions gifts to a linga. The site includes a moat, 1,690 by 840 m, and the Pra Paton caitya.$^{:300,302,306–307}$
It also became the origin of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, as the first King of Ayutthaya, Ramathibodi, was prince of U Thong when the city was struck by an epidemic, prompting him to relocate east and found Ayutthaya.
U Thong district was created with the name Chorakhe Sam Phan in 1905. In 1939 the district was renamed U Thong. In 1944, the government moved the centre of the district from Ban Chorakhe Sam Phan to the area of the ancient city.

## Geography

Neighbouring districts are (from the north clockwise): Don Chedi, Mueang Suphan Buri, Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong of Suphan Buri Province; Lao Khwan, Huai Krachao, and Phanom Thuan of Kanchanaburi province.

## Administration
### Central administration

U Thong district is divided into 13 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 154 administrative villages (mubans).
| No. | Name | Thai | Villages | Pop. |
| 01. | U Thong | อู่ทอง | 11 | 23,868 |
| 02. | Sa Yai Som | สระยายโสม | 10 | 08,352 |
| 03. | Chorakhe Sam Phan | จรเข้สามพัน | 15 | 13,105 |
| 04. | Ban Don | บ้านดอน | 09 | 07,710 |
| 05. | Yung Thalai | ยุ้งทะลาย | 07 | 04,497 |
| 06. | Don Makluea | ดอนมะเกลือ | 12 | 04,548 |
| 07. | Nong Ong | หนองโอ่ง | 14 | 09,859 |
| 08. | Don Kha | ดอนคา | 20 | 13,245 |
| 09. | Phlapphla Chai | พลับพลาไชย | 14 | 11,854 |
| 10. | Ban Khong | บ้านโข้ง | 14 | 08,855 |
| 11. | Chedi | เจดีย์ | 08 | 03,076 |
| 12. | Sa Phang Lan | สระพังลาน | 10 | 05,203 |
| 13. | Krachan | กระจัน | 10 | 07,249 |

### Local administration

There are nine sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons) in the district:
* Chorakhe Sam Phan (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลจรเข้สามพัน) consists of sub-district Chorakhe Sam Phan.
* Chedi (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลเจดีย์) consists of sub-district Chedi.
* Sa Yai Som (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลสระยายโสม) consists of parts of the sub-district Sa Yai Som.
* U Thong (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลอู่ทอง) consists of parts of the sub-district U Thong.
* Khun Phat Pheng (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลขุนพัดเพ็ง) consists of parts of the sub-district Sa Yai Som.
* Ban Don (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลบ้านดอน) consists of sub-district Ban Don.
* Ban Khong (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลบ้านโข้ง) consists of sub-district Ban Khong.
* Krachan (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลกระจัน) consists of sub-district, Krachan.
* Thao U Thong (Thai: เทศบาลตำบลท้าวอู่ทอง) consists of parts of sub-district U Thong.
There are six sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in the district:
* Yung Thalai (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลยุ้งทะลาย) consists of sub-district Yung Thalai.
* Don Makluea (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลดอนมะเกลือ) consists of sub-district Don Makluea.
* Nong Ong (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลหนองโอ่ง) consists of sub-district Nong Ong.
* Don Kha (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลดอนคา) consists of sub-district Don Kha.
* Phlapphla Chai (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลพลับพลาไชย) consists of sub-district Phlapphla Chai.
* Sa Phang Lan (Thai: องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบลสระพังลาน) consists of sub-district Sa Phang Lan.