In 1917, the district name was changed from Renu Nakhon (เรณูนคร) to That Phanom.[1]
Administration
The district is divided into 12 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 142 villages (mubans). The sub-district municipality (thesaban tambon) That Phanom covers parts of tambon That Phanom and That Phanom Nuea. There are a further 11 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
The district's location on a bank of the Mekong has made it a prime agricultural area. Tomatoes, in particular, are one of the more profitable crops.[3]
That Phanom is also the only one in the northeastern where scrap metal or discarded metal is processed into machetes. It is classified as a community enterprise that generates income of up to 30–40 million baht per year.[4]