Mueang Song Khwae (Thai: เมืองสองแคว) (City of two tributaries)
Motto(s):
พระพุทธชินราชงามเลิศ ถิ่นกำเนิดพระนเรศวร สองฝั่งน่านล้วนเรือนแพ หวานฉ่ำแท้กล้วยตาก ถ้ำและน้ำตกหลากตระการตา ("Beautiful Phra Phuttha Chinnarat. Hometown of King Naresuan. Raft homes of the Nan River. Truly sweet dried bananas. Amazing caves and waterfalls.")
Its name means 'Vishnu's heaven'. The first element, Phitsanu (Thai: พิษณุ), is a cognate of "Vishnu", a Hindu god. The second element lok (Thai: โลก) means 'globe' or 'world'.
The lands of present-day Phitsanulok province were inhabited since the Stone Age.
The earliest historical records relating to the area indicate that at a time prior to or during the 11th century, the present-day city of Phitsanulok was a small strategic known as Song Khwae (Thai: สองแคว). During the next century, in 1188, Nakhon Thai, near the center of the present Phitsanulok province, was established as the capital city of the Singhanavati Kingdom, an early city-state of Thailand.
Later, during Thailand's Sukhothai Period, the city of Phitsanulok emerged as a major city in the east of the Sukhothai Kingdom, and the great temples of Wat Chula Manee, Wat Aranyik and Wat Chedi Yod Thong were constructed. In 1357, the renowned Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat was erected, and the Ayutthaya Period witnessed the construction of several of the province's other chief temples. Phitsanulok served for 25 years as the capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. In 1555, King Naresuan the Great was born in Phitsanulok. Naresuan played a significant role in the history of Thailand, as he expanded the kingdom (then called Siam) to its greatest territorial extent by conquering sizable portions of modern-day Burma and Cambodia.
In recent times, Phitsanulok province has become an important agricultural center, part of the "bread basket of Thailand", providing rice and other crops to consumers in Thailand and throughout the world. Extensive agricultural development over the last hundred years or so has spawned a modern infrastructure in the urban areas of the province, bringing with it an array of modern roads, universities, hospitals and other conveniences. Over the years, the Nan River and its tributaries have played a substantial role in the history and development of the region by providing a route for transportation, fertile soil for agriculture, and water for irrigation. The river waters have also served as a route for enemy invaders, and have been the source of periodic widespread flooding throughout the province.
The provincial flower is the yellow flame tree, Thai dok nonthriดอกนนทรี.
The provincial animal is the Thai Bangkaew Dog, in Thai sunakh bangkaewสุนัขบางแก้ว.
The provincial mascot is the yellow white tail fighting cock, Thai kai lueng hang khaoไก่เหลืองหางขาว.
The provincial motto is, "Beautiful Phra Phuttha Chinnarat. Hometown of King Naresuan. Raft homes of the Nan River. Truly sweet dried bananas. Amazing caves and waterfalls."[5]
As of 2019 the population of Phitsanulok was 95% Buddhist with some 328 Buddhist temples and 272 samnak song (houses of monks that are not officially registered) in the province.[9]
• Mueang Phitsanulok District has 83 temples and 26 samnak song, a few of the 83 temples are:
Phitsanulok province is divided into nine districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 93 subdistricts (tambon) and 1050 villages (muban).[10]
As of 26 November 2019 for local government there are:[11] one Phitsanulok Provincial Administrative Organisation - PPOA (ongkan borihan suan changwat phitsanulok) and 26 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Phitsanulok has city (thesaban nakhon) status, Aranyik has town (thesaban mueang) status and 24 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 76 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
The population of Phitsanulok province is 865,247, of which Mueang Phitsanulok district is the most populated with 291,311 people. Wang Thong district also has a population exceeding 100,000 people. The remaining seven districts have populations of 35,000 to 95,000, of which Wat Bot district is the least populated district with 37,694 people.[12]
Population 2019 census
District
Population
Area
Population density
Data
Proportion
km2
mile2
Proportion
per km2
per mile2
1
Mueang
291,311
33.7%
750.8
289.9
7.0%
388
1,005
2
Wang Thong
121,047
14.0%
1,687.1
651.4
15.6%
72
186
3
Bang Rakam
94,643
10.9%
936.0
361.4
8.6%
101
262
4
Nakhon Thai
87,772
10.1%
2,220.4
857.3
20.5%
40
102
5
Phrom Phiram
86,103
10.0%
832.7
321.5
7.7%
103
268
6
Noen Maprang
57,972
6.7%
1,029.6
397.5
9.5%
56
146
7
Bang Krathum
47,359
5.5%
447.0
172.6
4.1%
106
274
8
Chat Trakan
41,346
4.8%
1,586.1
612.4
14.7%
26
68
9
Wat Bot
37,694
4.3%
1,326.2
512.0
12.3%
28
74
Total
865,247
100.0%
10,815.9
4,176.0
100.0%
80
207
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
The population density of Phitsanulok province is 80 people per square kilometer (207 people per mile2), of which Mueang Phitsanulok District has the highest density with 388 people per km2 (1,005 people per mile2) and Chat Trakan District the lowest density with 26 people per km2 (68 people per mile2)
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
The urban population of Phitsanulok province is 274,802 (31.8%) There is one urban area, the city of Phitsanulok, with more than 150,000 inhabitants. The urban area around Bang Rakam has more than 30,000 people. There are also seven urban areas with 7,000 to 13,000 people. There are six urban areas with fewer than 5,500 people, of which Phrom Phiram is the smallest with about 1,100 people.[13] See also: Phitsanulok Local Government
Of the total population of Phitsanulok province, 31.8% live in municipal areas. In Mueang Phitsanulok district, this is 54.4% of the people. Between 30% and 50% in three districts live in municipal areas. In two districts this is between 20–25%. Finally, it is less than 15% in three districts, with Wang Thong District having the lowest rate at 3.8%.[13]
District
Population
Municipal area
Non-municipal area
Data
Proportion
Data
Proportion
1
Mueang
291,311
158,534
54.4%
132,777
45.6%
2
Bang Krathum
47,359
22,018
46.5%
25,341
53.5%
3
Bang Rakam
94,643
33,155
35.0%
61,488
65.0%
4
Noen Maprang
57,972
19,117
33.0%
38,855
67.0%
5
Nakhon Thai
87,772
19,513
22.2%
68,259
77.8%
6
Wat Bot
37,694
8,078
21.4%
29,616
78.6%
7
Chat Trakan
41,346
5,408
13.1%
35,938
86.9%
8
Phrom Phiram
86,103
4,353
5.1%
81,750
94.9%
9
Wang Thong
121,047
4,626
3.8%
116,421
96.2%
Total
865,247
274,802
31.8%
590,445
68.2%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
At the beginning of the 21st century there are lower birth rates. There are more men then women up to 40 years, suggesting that slightly more boys than girls born each year. Above 40 years of age there are more women then men, which reflects the higher life expectancy of women.[14]
In 2018, Phitsanulok province had an economic output of 100.286 billion baht (US$3.235 billion). This amounts to per capita gross provincial product (GPP) of 111,872 baht (US$3,609).[15] The total workforce was 476,004 of which 199,292 (41.9%) were employed in agriculture and fishing and 276,712 (58.1%) were employed in non-agriculture.[16]
Gross Provincial Product (GPP)
Activities
Baht
Percent
1
Agriculture
28,029,000,0000
28.0
2
Trade
13,897,000,000
13.9
3
Education
11,550,000,000
11.5
4
Defence + public admin.
9,978,000,000
10.0
5
Manufacturing
9,210,000,000
9.2
6
Financial
6,653,000,000
6.6
7
Construction
4,773,000,000
4.8
8
Real estate
4,224,000,000
4.2
9
Human health
4,068,000,000
4.0
10
Energy
2,261,000,000
2.3
11
Transportation
1,665,000,000
1.6
12
Hotel / restaurant
1,025,000,000
1.0
13
Informatica
749,000,000
0.7
14
Other service activities
692,000,000
0.7
15
Administration
623,000,000
0.6
16
Scientific activities
379,000,000
0.4
17
Pastime
339,000,000
0.3
18
Mining
171,000,000
0.2
Total
100,286,000,000
100
Employed persons
Activities
Workforce
Percent
1
Agriculture
199,292
41.9
2
Trade
62,685
13.2
3
Manufacturing
40,303
8.5
4
Construction
39,361
8.3
5
Hotel / restaurant
37,255
7.8
6
Defence + public admin.
24,918
5.2
7
Education
13,645
2.9
8
Other service activities
12,774
2.7
9
Human health
9,116
1.9
10
Transportation
7,783
1.6
11
Financial
5,895
1.3
12
Administration
5,805
1.2
13
Scientific activities
3,593
0.8
14
Energy
3,446
0.7
15
Pastime
3,289
0.7
16
Mining
2,659
0.6
17
Informatica
2,463
0.5
18
Real estate
1,722
0.4
Total
476,004
100
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Agricultural land use, 4,893 km2 (1,889 sq mi) is 45.2% of total land of Phitsanulok province 10,816 km2 (4,176 sq mi). This is divided as follows: paddy land: 2,846 km2 (1,099 sq mi) 58.2%, upland rice: 1,162 km2 (449 sq mi) 23.7%, orchard and perennial crop: 554 km2 (214 sq mi) 11.3%, vegetable and ornamental plant: 24 km2 (9.3 sq mi) 0.5% and farmland: 307 km2 (119 sq mi) 6.3%.[17]: 103
Agriculture in Phitsanulok province, the biggest sector of the economy, generated 28.029 billion baht (US$904 million) or 28% of GPP with a workforce of 199,292 (41.9% of all employed persons).
Production of the four main crops: sugarcane 1,620,173 tonnes; rice 1,284,164 tonnes; cassava 529,467 tonnes; and maize 255,898 tonnes.[17]: 108
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, the second sector of the economy generated 1.897 billion baht (US$448 million) or 13.2% of GPP with a workforce of 62,685 (13.2%).
Phitsanulok province is the educational center of the lower northern region. There are many educational institutions at all levels, from kindergarten to university level, both government and private.[18]
Around 412 clinics are in Phitsanulok province, of which 280 clinics (68%) in Mueang Phitsanulok province, 17 in Nakhon Thai, six in Chat Trakan, 17 in Bang Rakam, 12 in Bang Krathum, 29 in Phrom Phiram, 13 in Wat Bot, 25 in Wang Thong and 13 in Noen Maprang Districts.
They are all connected by Phitsanulok outer ring road 126 with viaducts.
East–West Economic Corridor (EWEC) is a transportation link along Myanmar–Thailand–Laos–Vietnam: Mawlamyine (Moulmein)–Myawaddy/Mae Sot–Phitsanulok–Khon Kaen–Mukdahan/Savannakhet–Dong Ha–Da Nang.
Registered in 2019 under the "Land Transport Act":[21]
Buses
Numbers
Non-fixed route bus
372
Fixed route bus
273
Private bus
19
Total
664
Trucks
Numbers
Private truck
8,179
Non-fixed route truck
1,872
Total
10,051
Buses provide the mass transport throughout the province. Phitsanulok is connected from three bus terminals with Bangkok and the cities of the provinces of northern Thailand (except Mae Hong Son) and upper northeastern Thailand by daily and nightly, direct bus routes. All of these bus routes are provided by eight bus companies:
Phitsanulok city has Phitsanulok railway station on the Northern Line of the State Railway of Thailand.
Intercity service runs from Hua Lamphong railway station of Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Nakhon Sawan - Phitsanulok - Lampang - Chiang Mai.[24] Commuter rail runs along the Northern Line.
In the year 2019, all tickets sold were 528,819.
204 first class one way tickets were sold.
Second class tickets were also sold for one way for a total of 85,374 (16.1%).
Third class tickets sold totaled 443,445 (83.9%).
One way third class tickets totaled 393,958 (74.5%).
Roundtrip third class tickets totaled 9,389 (1.8%).
Commuter third class tickets totaled 40,098 (7.6%).
There were 6,403 hotel rooms in 2018; about 3,304,883 people of which 3,088,811 Thai (93.5%) and 216,072 foreigners (6.5%) visited Phitsanulok province and contributed 8.33 billion baht (US$268 million) to tourism revenues. Further explained: 1,999,391 tourists of which 1,838,692 Thai and 216,072 foreigners; 1,305,492 excursionists of which 1,205,119 Thai and 55,373 foreigners. Compared to the two previous years 2016 and 2017, the number of people increased by 6.3 and 5.4% respectively.[26]
As of 2018 there were 304,425 households, of which 6,726 (2.2%) used fixed telephones, 66,149 (21.7%) used computers without internet connection and 209,090 (68.7) used computers with internet connection.[27]: 153
As of 2018 there were 835,814 people aged six years and older, of which 227,325 (27.2%) used computers, 454,569 (54.4%) used the internet and 744,576 (89.1%) used mobile phones.[27]: 152
In 2019, of the 347,266 households in Phitsanulok province 85.7% were connected to the electricity grid. All households of Bang Krathum District were connected, but for Noen Maprang District this was 69.9%.[28]
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) supplied tap water to 63,077 households of Phitsanulok province or 18.5%.
Mueang Phitsanulok District has 42,267 households (30.5%) connected to the water grid. Noen Maprang District has 526 households (2.4%) connected to the water grid.[29] Almost every residential area has its own water tower connected to a drilled water source.
Province Phitsanulok, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6190 is "low", occupies place 67 in the ranking.
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]
^ ab"ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019, Thailand boundary from Department of Provincial Administration in 2013{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ส.2562 [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
^ ab"ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved 12 March 2024, page 51{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ (เตรียมการ) 22 แห่ง" [Information of 22 National Parks Areas (Preparation)]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
^ ab"ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562" [Table 5 Wildlife Sanctuary Areas in 2019] (PDF). Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Plant Conservation (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
^Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 51. ISSN1905-8314, In the 2018 yearbook, the figures for temples (352) and for samnak song (247) are incorrectly added together (600) as being the figures for temples.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"สถิติทางการทะเบียน" [Registration statistics]. bora.dopa.go.th. Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). December 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2020. Download จำนวนประชากร ปี พ.ศ.2562 - Download population year 2019
^"Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019. 36 Phitsanulok: 1 PAO, 1 City mun., 1 Town mun., 24 Subdistrict mun., 76 SAO.
^Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 5, 9. ISSN1905-8314.
^ abPhitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. pp. 6–7. ISSN1905-8314, the following municipalities are missing from the report: Hua Ro (30-09-2011), Tha Thong (24-08-2012), Ban Khlong (24-08-2012), Bang Rakam Mueang Mai (30-09-2011) and Huai Kaeo.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 69. ISSN1905-8314.
^Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019: Economic Statistics - National Accounts. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 98. ISSN1905-8314.
^Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019: Labour Statistics. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 24. ISSN1905-8314.