Mueang Phitsanulok was the first class city in the northern part of Ayutthaya kingdom until the end of the kingdom in 1767. Also in the reign of King Taksin the Great, Phitsanulok was the first class city. In the Thesaphiban administrative reforms of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) the city became the center of monthon Phitsanulok. Also during these reforms the district was created in 1898. Luang Udom Khet Borihan became the first district head officer.
Mueang Phitsanulok lies within the Nan Basin, although the district's western border with Bang Rakam district is essentially the boundary between the Nan Basin and the Yom Basin as well. The distinction between the basins is blurry in this region, as the terrain is flat, and residents have diverted much of the water flow for agriculture over the years. Both basins are part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The important water resource is the Nan River, and the Khwae Noi River also flows through the district.[4]
Forest area is 53 km2 (20 sq mi), approximately 6.8 percent of the total area of the district.[5] Not to far away is Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, 1,262 km2 (487 sq mi).
Religion
As of 2019 the population of Mueang Phitsanulok district was 95 percent Buddhist with some active 83 Buddhist temples (Wats) and 26 samnak song (houses of monks that are not officially registered).[6]
There are 11 Christian churches in Mueang Phitsanulok District and muslims have their Masjid Abubak Pakistan mosque.
Administration
Provincial government
The district is divided into 20 subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 173 villages (mubans).[2]
Phitsanulok is a city municipality (thesaban nakhon) which covers tambon Nai Mueang. Aranyik is a town municipality (thesaban mueang). Hua Ro, Tha Thong, Ban Khlong, Phlai Chumphon and Ban Mai are subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). Ban Mai has not covered parts of tambons Wang Nam Khu and Wat Phrik since 1999. There are further 14 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[2]
Mueang Phitsanulok district is with 281,929 people the most densely populated district of Phitsanulok Province. The other eight districts have a total population of 276,936 people.
Urban area
Urban population in Mueang Phitsanulok district is 158,534 people (54.4 percent). The urban area around the city of Phitsanulok has 156,547 people and around Ban Mai is this 1,987 people; 54.4 percent of the people in the district live in a municipal area, 132,277 people (45.6 percent) live in a non-municipal area.
Economy
Mueang Phitsanulok district is the shopping and service center of Phitsanulok Province.
210 groups of "One Tambon - One Product" (OTOP).[22]
Agriculture
Four main crops
Rice is the major product of the four main crops, with a production of 196,497 ton (15.3 percent of the provincial 1,284,164 ton).[23]: 105–107 Crop area is 24,553 hectares (60,670 acres) or 7.3 percent of the province's crop area. 7,284 households are involved by the production.[24]
Cassava and maize production takes place on 1,509 hectares (3,730 acres), involving 491 households. Crop area is just 2.0 percent of the province's crop area.
Cane sugar production takes place on 838 hectares (2,070 acres), 202 households are involved by the production. Crop area is just 3.3 percent of the province's crop area.
Fruit trees and tree crops
Mango, Banana, Lime, Longan, Tamarind and Pomelo production takes place on 155 hectares (380 acres) or just 0.3 percent of the province's harvest area, involving 307 households.
Total catch from freshwater aquaculture was 1,144 ton, or 9.4 percent of 12,169 ton from Phitsanulok Province.[23]: 111
Education
Mueang Phitsanulok district is the educational center of Phitsanulok Province. There are many educational institutions at all levels, from kindergarten to university level, both government and private.[25]
Higher education
There are six higher education institutes in or around the district with 38,553 students:
Naresuan University with 16 faculties, 184 courses and with more than 22,000 students is leader of the universities in Phitsanulok province.
There are 24 health promoting hospitals in Mueang Phitsanulok District.
Infrastructure
Roads
Road 126, a multi-lane by-pass enables through-traffic to avoid the city of Phitsanulok, and connects to highway 11 to Uttaradit and Lampang in the north, and to highway 12 to Phetchabun in the east, and to highway 11 to Sing Buri in the south, and to highway 117 to Nakhon Sawan in the south, and to highway 12 to Sukhothai, Tak and Mae Sot in the west.
Buses
Phitsanulok Terminal 1 (Saen Phon Phai) and Terminal 2 (Samo Khae) provide the mass transport throughout Phitsanulok Province by some eight bus companies. Yanyon tour operates its own private bus station (Sua Thim) with only a busline to Bangkok.
Airport
Close to the city center (Aranyik), Phitsanulok Airport receives up to six flights a day from Bangkok (flight time approximately 60 minutes), which are operated by three airlines: Nok Air, Thai Air Asia and Thai Lion Air.
In 2006, there were reported cases of leptospirosis among residents of Mueang Phitsanulok, contracted from standing water.[29]
References
^บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 4.
^ abc"Official statistics registration systems". Department of Provincial Administration. Retrieved 6 June 2023, year 2022 >village level >ExcelFile >no.65010100-65012000 >Excel line 8263-8279 >8354 >8360 >8394 >8398{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"Location and territory". บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 3.
^"Terrain characteristics". บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 3.
^"The national and surrounded". บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 3.
^Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Report 2562-2019. Phitsanulok Provincial Statistical Office (Report). National Statistical Office (NSO). 2020. p. 51. ISSN1905-8314.
^"พระราชกฤษฎีกา จัดตั้งเทศบาลนครพิษญโลก จังหวัดพิษญโลก พ.ศ.๒๕๔๒" [Royal Decree Establish of Thesaban Nakhon Phitsanulok Changwat Phitsanulok B.E.2542 (1999)] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 116 (14 Kor): 5–10. 8 March 1999. Archived from the original(PDF) on November 10, 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
^"Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 13 March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2020. No.3.3 Established Aranyik Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province is Aranyik town municipality, effectively 1 May 2012.
^"ประวัติเทศบาลดำบลหัวรอ" [History of the municipality Hua Ro]. houraw.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Announcement of Ministry of Interior, dated 20 September 2011, Hua Ro subdistrict administration (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province is Hua Ro subdistrict municipality on 30 September 2011.
^"ประวัติหน่วยงาน" [History of the agency]. thathong-pilok.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020. Announcement of Ministry of Interior, dated 29 June 2012, Tha Thong Subdistrict Administration Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province is Tha Thong subdistrict minicipality on 24 August 2012.
^"Number of local government organizations: Summary elevating local authorities". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 15 August 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2020. No.4.95 Established Ban Khlong Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province is Ban Khlong subdistrict municipality, effectively 24 August 2012.
^"ประวัติหน่วยงาน" [History of the agency]. buengphra.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020. Announced in the Royal Thai Government Gazette, General issue, volume 113, Section 9 Nd, dated 30 January 1996, establishment of Bueng Phra Subdistrict Administration Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province.
^"ประวัติความเป็นมา" [History]. samokhae.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Announcement Ministry of Interior, dated 19 January 1916, Establishment of Samo Khae Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province effective on 30 March 1996.
^ abcdefDepartment of Provincial Administration (DOPA), List of 5,324 SAO's information as of date 20 December 2019, Six Subdistrict Administrative Organizations (SAO) were established in 1996, no.2687 Tha Pho SAO, no.2688 Ban Krang SAO, no.2689 Ban Pa SAO, no.2691 Pak Thok SAO, no.2692 Phai Kho Don SAO and no.2696 Wat Phrik SAO.
^"ประวัติหน่วยงาน" [History of the agency]. donthongsao.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020. Announcement of Ministry of Interior, date 19 January 1996, Royal Thai Government Gazette, volume 113, Section 9 Ngor, Establishment of Don Thong Subdistrict Administration Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province, date 1 March 1996.
^"เขตการปกครอง" [Administrative area]. wadchan.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Royal Thai Government Gazette, volume 113, Section 9D, Establishment of Wat Chan Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), Mueang district, Phitsanulok province, date 30 January 1996.
^"ประวัติหน่วยงาน" [History of the agency]. makhaksoong.go.th (in Thai). 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020. Makham Sung Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), according to the Ministry of Interior's announcement dated 19 January 1996.
^ abcDepartment of Provincial Administration (DOPA), List of 5,324 SAO's information as of date 20 December 2019, Three Subdistrict Administrative Organizations (SAO) were established in 1997, no.2684 Ngio Ngam SAO, no.2685 Chom Thong SAO and no.2694 Wang Nam Khu SAO.
^"4.2". บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 7.
^"4.4". บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 7.
^"4.6.5". บรรยายสรุปอำเภอเมืองพิษณุโลก [Mueang Phitsanulok Briefing] (Report) (in Thai). Mueang Phitsanulok Administrative Office. 5 October 2020. p. 8.