Sangkha District

History

In 1759 the White Elephant of King Ekkathat escaped from Ayutthaya to the forest in Khwaeng Mueang Phimai area. Chiang Kha (เชียงฆะ), leader of Ban Khok Atcha and his groups volunteered to catch the elephant and succeed. King Ekkathat promoted him to be Phra Sangkhaburi Si Nakhon Atcha (พระสังฆะบุรีศรีนครอัจจะ) and upgraded Ban Khok Atcha to be Mueang Sangkha in 1763.

In 1778, King Taksin the Great lead his troop to Vientiane and Champasak. Mueang Sangkha was a part of the king troop. When King Taksin won, he promoted the governor of Sangkha to the rank of a Phraya.

In 1806 the status of Mueang Sangkha was upgraded to be a direct subordinate of the capital Bangkok.

In 1828 Phraya Sankhaburi (Thong Duang) was endorsed to become Mueang Khukhan governor to replace the killed previous governor.

In 1907 Monthon Isan was divided into 4 sections (Boriwen). Mueang Sangkha was under the Surin Section, together with Mueang Surin. Mueang Sangkha at that time was subdivided into 3 districts, Sangkha, Si Khonphum and Changkan.

In 1912 Monthon Isan was split into Monthon Roi Et and Monthon Ubon Ratchathani. Mueang Surin was included to Monthon Ubon Ratchathani, Mueang Sankha continued to be under Mueang Surin.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise) Kap Choeng, Prasat, Lamduan, Si Narong of Surin Province, Khukhan of Sisaket Province, Buachet of Surin Province again and Oddar Meancheay of Cambodia. The southern part of this district is located in the Dângrêk Mountains.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 12 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 187 villages (muban). Sangkha itself is a subdistrict municipality (thesaban tambon) and covers parts of the tambon Sangkha and Ban Chop. There are further 12 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

Missing numbers now form the district Si Narong.