Chat Trakan district

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Chat Trakan | native_name = ชาติตระการ | native_name_lang= th | settlement_type = District | image_skyline = Chat Trakan Waterfall 03.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Chat Trakan Waterfall | image_map = Amphoe 6503.svg | map_caption = District location in Phitsanulok province | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Thailand | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Phitsanulok | subdivision_type2 = Seat | subdivision_name2 = Pa Daeng | established_title = | established_date = | population_total = 41,550 | population_as_of = 2025 | population_density_km2 = 26 | area_total_km2 = 1,586.2 | leader_title = | leader_name = | timezone = ICT | utc_offset = +7 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 65170 | area_code_type = Calling code | area_code = 055 | iso_code = TH-6503 | blank_name_sec1 = LAO code | blank_info_sec1 = 01650301 | coordinates = {{coord|17|16|36|N|100|35|57|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH|display=inline,title}} | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Chat Trakan''' ({{langx|th|ชาติตระการ}}, {{IPA|th|t͡ɕʰâːt trā.kāːn|pron}}) is the northernmost district (''amphoe'') of Phitsanulok province, lower northern region of Thailand.

==History== ''Mueang'' Chat Trakan was an ancient city of the same era as ''Mueang'' Nakhon Thai. Originally part of Nakhon Thai District, it was made a minor district (''king amphoe'') on 1 May 1969, consisting of the two ''tambon'' Chat Trakan and Pa Daeng.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=86|issue=42 ง|pages=1696|script-title=th:ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งท้องที่ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอ|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2512/D/042/1696.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324104449/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2512/D/042/1696.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |date=May 13, 1969|language=Thai}}</ref> It was upgraded to a full district on 1 April 1974.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=91|issue=54 ก special issue|pages=30–33|script-title=th:พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอเขาวง อำเภอเชียงม่วน อำเภอดอนตาล อำเภอชาติตระการ อำเภอภูเรือ อำเภอเคียนซา อำเภอน้ำโสม อำเภอหนองวัวซอ และอำเภอน้ำยืน พ.ศ. ๒๕๑๗|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2517/A/054/30.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718004436/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2517/A/054/30.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2011|date=March 28, 1974|language=Thai}}</ref> It was a scene of conflict in the Thai–Laotian Border War (December 1987 – February 1988.)

==Geography== Neighboring districts are (from the southeast clockwise) Na Haeo of Loei province, Nakhon Thai, Wang Thong, Wat Bot of Phitsanulok Province, Thong Saen Khan and Nam Pat of Uttaradit province. And to the east it borders Xaignabouli of Laos.

Chat Trakan lies within the Nan Basin, part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The Khwae Noi River flows through Chat Trakan, as well as the lesser Kap (Thai: ลำน้ำคับ), Phak (Thai: ลำน้ำภาค) and Kleung (Thai: ลำน้ำคลึง) Rivers.

Namtok Chat Trakan National Park is in Chat Trakan District. The northeastern part of the district is in the southernmost prolongation of the Luang Prabang Range mountain area of the Thai highlands.<ref>ดร.กระมล ทองธรรมชาติ และคณะ, สังคมศึกษา ศาสนาและวัฒนธรรม ม.1, สำนักพิมพ์ อักษรเจริญทัศน์ อจท. จำกัด, 2548, หน้า 24-25 {{in lang|th}}</ref>

==Administration== ===Provincial government=== The district is divided into six subdistricts (''tambons''), which are further subdivided into 72 villages (''mubans''), as of 2025: 41,550 people of 15,744 families.<ref name=population>{{cite web |url=https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/new_stat/ |title=official statistics registration system |access-date=16 April 2026 |publisher=Department of Provincial Administration |quote=, year 2025, village level, no.65030100-65030600}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="width:48%;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:9%;"| No ! scope="col" style="width:45%;"| Subdistrict ! scope="col" style="width:26%;"| Population ! scope="col" style="width:20%;"| Villages |- | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | Pa Daeng | style="text-align:right;"| 8,084 | style="text-align:center;"| 12 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | Chat Trakan | style="text-align:right;| 4,605 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | Suan Miang | style="text-align:right;"| 5,650 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | Ban Dong | style="text-align:right;"| 8,250 | style="text-align:center;"| 16 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | Bo Phak | style="text-align:right;| 9,998 | style="text-align:center;"| 16 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | Tha Sakae | style="text-align:right;"| 4,963 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 |- |   | '''Total population''' | style="text-align:right;"| '''41,550''' | style="text-align:center;"| '''72''' |}

===Local government=== There is one subdistrict municipality (''thesaban tambon''}. Pa Daeng municipality covers villages 1 - 6, 8 of Pa Daeng, village 3 of Tha Sakae subdistricts.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:48%;" |- ! scope="col" style="width:65%;"| Pa Daeng subdistrict municipality ! scope="col" style="width:35%;"| Population |- | Pa Daeng subdistrict | style="text-align:right;"| 4,308 |- |Tha Sakae subdistrict | style="text-align:right;"| 904 |- | '''Total Population''' | style="text-align:right;"| '''5,212''' |}

Further there are six subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO). Pa Daeng and Tha Sakae SAO's cover the remaining areas of Pa Daeng and Tha Sakae subdistricts. The other four SAO's cover the whole same-named subdistrict.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dla.go.th |url-access=registration |title=รหัสองค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น |trans-title=Local government organization code |language=thai |department=Department of Local Administration |access-date=24 March 2026 |quote=, Phitsanulok province, Chat Trakan district}}</ref>

==Temples== There are 36 active Buddhist temples in Chat Trakan.<ref name="culture.pitlok.net">[http://www.culture.pitlok.net/wat9.html Culture.Pitlok.net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724005910/http://www.culture.pitlok.net/wat9.html |date=2011-07-24 }}</ref>

==Economy== Chat Trakan is a district on the outskirts of Phitsanulok province, more than 90% of which is reserved forest area.

Therefore, Chat Trakan and two neighboring districts, Nakhon Thai and Wat Bot, have the lowest prosperity index in Phitsanulok, lowest household income and highest household debt.<ref>หน้า 6, ''ไก่–ศุภกปรณ์ กิตยาธิคุณ พิษณุโลก ก้าวไกล ลุยปลดล็อกปัญหาที่ดิน''. Matichon issues 16540 vol.46 Saturday, June 24, 2023 {{in lang|th}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234140/http://www.amphoe.com/menu.php?am=416&pv=36 amphoe.com] (Thai) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110345/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=140&lg=2 Namtok Chat Trakan National Park]

Chat Trakan