Country Thailand Seat Talat Postal code 84000, 84100 Area 231.1 km² | Province Surat Thani Time zone THA (UTC+7) TIS 1099 8401 Population 172,202 (2012) | |
 | ||
Colleges and Universities Suratthani Rajabhat University, Tapee College Points of interest Thale Nai, Ko Lamphu, Khao Tha Phet, Ko Lamphu Public Park, The Pirates Park | ||
Mueang Surat Thani (Thai: เมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี) or Bandon District (Thai: อำเภอบ้านดอน), is the capital district (Amphoe Mueang) of Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand.
Contents
Map of Mueang Surat Thani District, Surat Thani, Thailand
Geography
The district is located at the mouth of the Tapi River into the Bandon Bay of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise) Kanchanadit, Ban Na San, Ban Na Doem and Phunphin.
To the east of the district the Thathong River marks the natural boundary to Kanchanadit, while the boundary to Phunphin is partially marked by the western arm of the Tapi river. The Khun Thale is a small lake located in the center of the district. The Khao Tha Phet non-hunting area protects 4.65 km² of a hill south of the city Surat Thani.
The Khun Thale swamp to the south of the district is the source of two short minor rivers which meander through the city, Khlong Makham Tia and Khlong Tha Kup.
History
The district was formed when in 1897 Mueang Chaiya and Kanchanadit were merged into a single province named Chaiya, with its administrative center located at Ban Don. The district was then simply named Mueang. In 1915 the province was renamed to Surat Thani, in 1917 the district was renamed to Ban Don (บ้านดอน). In 1938 the district was renamed to Mueang Surat Thani, when all capital districts were named according to the corresponding province name.
Administration
The district is subdivided into 11 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 70 villages (muban). Surat Thani itself is a city (thesaban nakhon) and covers the tambon Talat and Bang Kung, and parts of the tambon Khlong Chanak, Bang Chana, Bang Bai Mai and Makham Tia. Wat Pradu and Khun Thale have subdistrict municipality (thesaban tambon) status, and cover the whole same-named subdistrict. There are further 8 tambon administrative organizations (TAO), for each subdistrict except the three completely covered by municipalities.