| Ang Thong | |
| Native Name: | อ่างทอง |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Motto: | พระสมเด็จเกษไชโย หลวงพ่อโตองค์ใหญ่ วีรไทยใจกล้า ตุ๊กตาชาววัง โด่งดังจักสาน ถิ่นฐานทำกลอง เมืองสองพระนอน ("Phra Somdet Ket Chaiyo. Large Buddha image of Luang Pho To. Brave Thai heroes. Palace dolls. Famous Wickers. Homeland of drums production. City of two reclining buddhas.") |
| Mapsize: | frameless |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Ang Thong |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Verasak Vichitsangsri (since September 2021) |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 968 |
| Area Rank: | Ranked 72nd |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 280,840 |
| Population As Of: | 2018 |
| Population Rank: | Ranked 71st |
| Population Density Km2: | 290.1 |
| Population Density Rank: | Ranked 12th |
| Demographics Type2: | GDP |
| Demographics2 Footnotes: | [3] |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics2 Info1: | baht 28 billion (US$1.0 billion) (2019) |
| Demographics Type1: | Human Achievement Index |
| Demographics1 Footnotes: | [4] |
| Demographics1 Title1: | HAI (2022) |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 0.6457 "average" Ranked 32nd |
| Timezone1: | ICT |
| Utc Offset1: | +7 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 14xxx |
| Area Code Type: | Calling code |
| Area Code: | 035 |
| Iso Code: | TH-15 |
Ang Thong (Thai: อ่างทอง, in Thai pronounced as /ʔàːŋ tʰɔ̄ːŋ/) or Angthong is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. The name "Ang Thong" means 'gold basin', thought to have derived from the basin-like geography of the area, and the golden color of the rice grown in the region.
Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Sing Buri, Lopburi, Ayutthaya, and Suphan Buri.
Ang Thong native handicrafts include moulded court dolls, firebrick, and wickerwork.
Ang Thong has more than 200 Buddhist temples, but there are nine distinct temples that are promoted as "Paying Homage to Nine Auspicious Temples". This consists of Wat Chaiyo Worawihan, Wat Khun Inthapramun, Wat Pa Mok Worawihan, Wat Tonson, Wat Mahanam, Wat Thasutthawat, Wat Siroi, Wat Khian and, Wat Muang where the Great Buddha of Thailand is enshrined.
Ang Thong occupies a low river plain, created by the Chao Phraya and the Noi Rivers. It has neither mountains nor forests, but consists of mostly agricultural land.[5] The two rivers, together with many canals (khlongs), provide enough water for rice farming.[6]
thumb|Statue of Khun Rong Palat Chu|leftAng Thong was historically known as Wiset Chai Chan, on the Noi River. It was an important border town of the Ayutthaya Kingdom during the wars with Burma, as the Noi River served as a natural obstacle for advancing troops.
During the reign of King Taksin after the fall of Ayutthaya, the main city of the province was moved to the Chao Phraya River, and named Ang Thong, as the Noi River had become silted and too shallow for transportation.
Ang Thong is the provenance of Likay, the native folk song, and the hometown of Nai Dok and Nai Thongkaeo, two heroes of the Bang Rachan Battle.
Khun Rong Palat Chu is another local hero of Ang Thong. His heroism is little known when compared to the villagers of Bang Rachan because only two lines were recorded in the Thai chronicles. He grouped up and led four hundred volunteer sword fighters under the name "Kong Attamat" to accompany the royal army from the capital during the royal army's settlement at Kui Buri of Prachuap Khiri Khan. His group received a command to obstruct the Burmese army 8,000 people at Ao Wa Khao (in present-day Ao Noi, Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan) in 1759 when King Alaungpaya of Burma invaded Myeik (Burmese–Siamese War (1759–60)) which was a part of Ayutthaya Kingdom at that time. In the end, they all died of four hundred people. Nowadays, there is a monument built to commemorate his heroism at Wat Si Roi, Wiset Chai Chan.[7]
The provincial seal shows some golden ears of rice in a bowl of water. This symbolizes the fertility of the province as one of the major producers of rice. The provincial tree is the gaub tree (Diospyros malabarica). The provincial fish is red tailed tinfoil (Barbonymus altus).[8]
The province is divided into seven districts (amphoes). The districts are further subdivided into 73 subdistricts (tambons) and 513 villages (mubans).
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[9] one Ang Thong Provincial Administration Organisation (Thai: ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 21 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Ang Thong has town (thesaban mueang) status.[10] Further 20 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 43 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[2]
| Health | Education | Employment | Income | |
| 55 | 12 | 16 | 25 | |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation | |
| 34 | 77 | 25 | 25 | |
| Province Ang Thong, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6457 is "average", occupies place 32 in the ranking. | ||||
| Rank | Classification | |
| 1 - 13 | "high" | |
| 14 - 29 | "somewhat high" | |
| 30 - 45 | "average" | |
| 46 - 61 | "somewhat low" | |
| 62 - 77 | "low" |
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