Fang district

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Fang | native_name = ฝาง | native_name_lang= | settlement_type = District | image_skyline = AngKhang2.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Royal Agricultural Station at Doi Ang Khang | image_map = Amphoe 5009.svg | map_caption = District location in Chiang Mai province | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Thailand | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Chiang Mai | subdivision_type2 = Seat | subdivision_name2 = Fang (town) | subdivision_type3 = ''Tambon'' | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = ''Muban'' | subdivision_name4 = | established_title = District established | established_date = | population_total = 231,544 | population_as_of = 2005 | population_density_km2 = {{formatnum:931.6}}{{dubious|date=November 2019}} | area_total_km2 = {{formatnum:888.164|R}} | leader_title = | leader_name = | blank_name_sec1 = Postal code | blank_info_sec1 = 50110 | blank_name_sec2 = Geocode | blank_info_sec2 = 5009 | timezone = ICT | utc_offset = +7 | coordinates = {{coord|19|55|8|N|99|12|49|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH|display=inline,title}} | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Fang''' ({{langx|th|ฝาง}}, {{IPA|th|fǎːŋ|pron}}) is a district (''amphoe'') in the northern part of Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand.

==History== According to the Yonok chronicle, ''Mueang'' Fang was built in 641 by King Lawa Changkarat. Later, King Mengrai the Great ruled over Fang before building Wiang Kumkam and Chiang Mai as successive capitals of the Lanna Kingdom, beginning in 1294.<ref>''The Chiang Mai Chronicle 2nd Edition'', tr. David K. Wyatt and Aroonrut Wichienkeeo, Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 1998, p18 {{ISBN|978-974-7100-62-4}}</ref> Prior to the new capitals, Mengrai had used Mueang Fang as a base to invade Hariphunchai.<ref>Ongsakul, Sarassawadee, ''History of Lan Na'', trans. Chitraporn Tanratanakul, Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, Thai text 2001, English text 2005, p.55 {{ISBN|978-974-9575-84-0}}</ref>

In 1910, ''Mueang'' Fang was made part of Chiang Rai province, and named Mueang Fang District.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=27|issue=ง|pages=426–427|script-title=th:ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2453/D/426_2.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516195208/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2453/D/426_2.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2012|date=12 Jun 1910|language=Thai}}</ref> In 1925, it was reassigned to Chiang Mai Province.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=42|issue=ง|pages=203|script-title=th:ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง โอนอำเภอเมืองฝาง จังหวัดเชียงรายไปขึ้นจังหวัดเชียงใหม่|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2468/D/203.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516195229/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2468/D/203.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2012|date=26 Apr 1925|language=Thai}}</ref> In 1938, the word ''mueang'' was dropped from Fang's name, which was then reserved for capital districts of provinces.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=55|issue=ก|pages=658–666|script-title=th:พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามจังหวัด และอำเภอบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๑|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2481/A/658.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108064242/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2481/A/658.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2011|date=14 Nov 1938|language=Thai}}</ref>

==Etymology== The landscape of Mueang Fang looked like the seed of a fang tree (''Caesalpinia sappan''). The town was named after this tree.

==Geography== thumb|left|View from Rte 1340, Daen Lao Range, Fang Valley

Neighboring districts are (from the northeast, clockwise) Mae Ai of Chiang Mai Province, Mae Suai of Chiang Rai province, Chai Prakan of Chiang Mai Province, and Shan State of Myanmar. The Fang River, a tributary of the Kok River, gives its name to the district.

Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park is in Fang District. The Daen Lao Range runs through the district's north and west, and the Khun Tan Range begins in the south of the district.

==Administration== The district is divided into eight subdistricts (''tambons''), which are further subdivided into 128 villages (''mubans''). There are two townships (''thesaban tambons''): Wiang Fang covers parts of ''tambon'' Wiang, and Ban Mae Kha parts of ''tambon'' Mae Kha. There are a further eight tambon administrative organizations (TAO). {| ! No. ! Name ! Thai name ! Villages ! Pop. |- ||1.||Wiang||เวียง||19||26,810|| |- ||3.||Mon Pin||ม่อนปิ่น||22||19,123|| |- ||4.||Mae Ngon||แม่งอน||18||17,715|| |- ||5.||Mae Sun||แม่สูน||17||15,019|| |- ||6.||San Sai||สันทราย||17||11,583|| |- ||10.||Mae Kha||แม่คะ||15||14,542|| |- ||11.||Mae Kha||แม่ข่า||13||9,873|| |- ||12.||Pong Nam Ron||โป่งน้ำร้อน||7||6,368|| |} <small>Missing numbers are ''tambons'' which now form Chai Prakan district.</small>

== See also == * Fangchanupathum School *Fang (town)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Wikivoyage-inline|Fang}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070308171339/http://www.amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=154&pv=13 amphoe.com (Thai)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310233524/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=160&lg=2 Doi Phahompok National Park]

Fang