Bang Khen District


Bang Khen is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bounded by other Bangkok districts : Sai Mai, Khlong Sam Wa, Khan Na Yao, Bueng Kum, Lat Phrao, Chatuchak, Lak Si, and Don Mueang.

History

Bang Khen was established as an amphoe of Phra Nakhon Province in 1897. The district occupied a vast plain called Thung Bang Khen in north Bangkok. Farms dominated its landscape. In October 1933, the district was a battleground in the "Boworadet rebellion" contested by the army of Prince Boworadet and government troops.
Its name "Bang Khen" is said to be distorted from the word Bang Ken. It originated from a folk tale titled "Legend of Lord Uthong" when a gold tanker of Lord Uthong ran aground in a local canal. Therefore having to push a tanker to pass through with tangle.
In 1972, Thonburi and Phra Nakhon Provinces were combined and called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. Administrative units within the capital were renamed "districts" and "sub-district", replacing "amphoe" and "tambon" respectively. Bang Khen became a district in the newly combined province. At that time it had eight sub-districts.
Bang Khen was once a very large district, but has been reduced in size after several modifications to district boundaries. In 1989, western and southwestern portions were split off to create Don Mueang District and Chatuchak District respectively. In 1997, a northern portion of Bang Khen was split off to create Sai Mai District, but in the same reorganization Bang Khen received Moo 8-10 of Chorakhe Bua Sub-district from Lat Phrao District.
the Thai Army's 11th Infantry Division occupies 3,000 rai of land in Bang Khen.

Places of interest

The district is divided into two sub-districts : Anusawari and Tha Raeng.

District council

The Bang Khen district council has eight members, who serve four-year terms. Elections were last held on 30 April 2006. The Thai Rak Thai Party won all eight seats.