# Samut Songkhram

Samut Songkhram (Thai: สมุทรสงคราม (Pronunciation)) is a city in Western Thailand region, the capital of Samut Songkhram province, a route to the south of Thailand. It is 63 kilometres (39 mi) from Bangkok and has a population of 25,623 people as of 2023.

## Toponymy

The word "samut" originates from the Sanskrit word "samudra" meaning "ocean", and the word "songkhram" from the Sanskrit "sangrama" meaning "war". Hence the name of the province literally means "war ocean".

## Geography

Samut Songkhram is at the mouth of the Mae Klong River to the Gulf of Thailand. By means of canals (khlong) the water of the river is spread through the province for irrigation. At the coast are many evaporation ponds for producing sea salt. The subdistrict is bordered to the north by Ban Prok and Lat Yai subdistricts, Mueang Samut Songkhram district, to the east by Bang Kaeo and Bang Chakreng subdistricts, Mueang Samut Songkhram district, to the south by Bang Chakreng and Laem Yai subdistricts, Mueang Samut Songkhram district, to the west by Laem Yai and Yai Hat subdistricts, Mueang Samut Songkhram district.

## History

In the Ayutthaya period the area of Samut Songkhram was known as Suan Nok (Thai สวนนอก, "outer garden") and was administrated by Ratchaburi. During the reign of King Taksin it became a province. It was the birthplace of Queen Amarindra of King Rama I, who also initiated the name Suan Nok. The birthplace of King Rama II in Amphawa district is now a memorial park. On 29 November 1936 Samut Songkhram town municipality was established, with an area of approximately 3.0 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi). and was expanded to a total area of 8.0 square kilometres (3.1 sq mi) on 10 November 1965.

## Economy

Most of the people in the municipality are fisherman or work in the two processed seafood factories.

## Transportation

The subdistrict is the intersection of highway 35 eastbound (Bangkok route), highway 35 westbound (Pak Tho district, Ratchaburi province), highway 325 northbound (Bang Phae district, Ratchaburi province).

## Administration
### Central government

The administration of Samut Songkhram city is responsible for only Mae Klong subdistrict (tambon) with 5,000 rai ~ 8.0 square kilometres (3.1 sq mi) and 25,623 people, but no villages (muban).

### Local government

Samut Songkhram town municipality (thesaban mueang) covers the whole Mae Klong subdistrict. There are 14 communities (chumchon), although not directly chosen by the local citizens, which provides advice and recommendations to the local administrative organization.
| No. | Community | Thai |
| 1. | Wat Yai | วัดใหญ่ |
| 2. | Soi Wat Lang Ban | ซอยวัดหลังบ้าน |
| 3. | Ekachai | เอกชัย |
| 4. | Soi Chumsai Thorasap | ซอยชุมสายโทรศัพท์ |
| 5. | Wat Pomkaew | วัดป้อมแก้ว |
| 6. | Wat Phet Samut Worawihan | วัดเพชรสมุทรวรวิหาร |
| 7. | Talat | ตลาด |
| 8. | Wat Thammanimit | วัดธรรมนิมิต |
| 9. | Bang Chakreng 1 | บางจะเกร็ง 1 |
| 10. | Bang Chakreng 2 | บางจะเกร็ง 2 |
| 11. | Bang Chakreng 3, 4 | บางจะเกร็ง 3, 4 |
| 12. | Laem Yai | แหลมใหญ่ |
| 13. | Wat Pratum Kanawat | วัดประทุมคณาวาส |
| 14. | Saphan 4 - Wat Puangmalai | สะพาน 4 - วัดพวงมาลัย |

## Religion

Most of the people in the municipality are Buddhist. There are six Buddhist tempels and there is a Christian church.

### Temples

The following active temples, where Theravada Buddhism is practised by local residents:
| Temple name | Thai | Location |
| Wat Yai | วัดใหญ่ | Comm.1 |
| Wat Pomkaew | ซัดป้อมแก้ว | Comm.5 |
| Wat Phet Samut Worawihan | วัดเพชรสมุทรวรวิหาร | Comm.6 |
| Wat Thamnimit | วัดธรรมนิมิต | Comm.8 |
| Wat Pratum Kanawat | วัดประทุมคณาวาส | Comm.13 |
| Wat Puangmalai | วัดพวงมาลัย | Comm.14 |

## Education

There are the following schools in the city:
* Wat Yai Municipality school (comm.1)
* Wat Pomkaew Municipality school (comm.5)
* Wat Thamnimit Municipality school (comm.8)
* Wat Pratum Kanawat Municipality school (comm.13)
* Saengwanit Municipality school (comm.14)
* Thawaranukul school (comm.3)
* Samut Songkhram Municipality school (comm.3)
* Prakob Witthaya school (comm.2)
* Anuban Samut Songkhram school (comm.4)
* Drunanukul school (comm.10)
* Kong Li Chian Lin school (comm.14)

## Healthcare

There is no health promoting hospital in Mae Klong. But there are Somdej Phra Phuttaloetla Hospital (282 beds) and Mae Klong 2 Hospital (60 beds), as well as 42 private and dental clinics.

## Economy

Some people are fishermen or work in the three fish and seafood processing factories.

## Notable people

* Chang and Eng Bunker, the original "Siamese twins"

## Climate

Climate data for Samut Songkhram (1992–2019) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.5 (86.9) | 31.3 (88.3) | 32.3 (90.1) | 33.6 (92.5) | 33.7 (92.7) | 33.2 (91.8) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.9 (91.2) | 32.4 (90.3) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.4 (88.5) | 30.7 (87.3) | 32.2 (90.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.0 (78.8) | 27.4 (81.3) | 28.7 (83.7) | 29.8 (85.6) | 29.6 (85.3) | 29.2 (84.6) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.3 (82.9) | 27.9 (82.2) | 27.2 (81.0) | 25.8 (78.4) | 28.1 (82.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.9 (78.6) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 23.5 (74.3) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.5 (76.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19.4 (0.76) | 3.8 (0.15) | 41.8 (1.65) | 138.1 (5.44) | 250.8 (9.87) | 248.0 (9.76) | 250.0 (9.84) | 210.0 (8.27) | 220.0 (8.66) | 260.0 (10.24) | 66.1 (2.60) | 9.6 (0.38) | 1,717.6 (67.62) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 109 |
| Source: Soil Resources Survey and Research Division ||||||||||||||