| Official Name: | Bang Krathum |
| Native Name: | บางกระทุ่ม |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Phitsanulok |
| Subdivision Type2: | Seat |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bang Krathum |
| Established Title: | District established |
| Established Date: | 1927 |
| Population Total: | 48667 |
| Population As Of: | 2009 |
| Population Density Km2: | 111.0 |
| Area Total Km2: | 447.03 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Postal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 65110 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Geocode |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 6505 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 16.5853°N 100.3061°W |
Bang Krathum (Thai: บางกระทุ่ม, in Thai pronounced as /bāːŋ krā.tʰûm/) is a district (amphoe) in the Phitsanulok province, Thailand.
Bang (Thai: บาง) means 'village' or 'settlement'. The second element krathum (Thai: กระทุ่ม) means 'bur-flower tree' (Neolamarckia cadamba).
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise), Mueang Phitsanulok and Wang Thong of Phitsanulok Province; Sak Lek, Mueang Phichit, and Sam Ngam of Phichit province. Most of Bang Krathum lies within the Nan Basin, although a narrow strip of land on the west side of the district lies within the Yom Basin. Both basins are part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The Nan, Wang Thong and Wat Ta Yom Rivers flow through Bang Krathum, and the Yom River forms part of the border between Bang Krathum and Phichit.
The minor district (king amphoe) Bang Krathum was created in 1927 by combining three sub-districts from Mueang Phitsanulok District and three sub-districts from Pa Mak District, the present-day Wang Thong District.[1] Originally a subordinate of Mueang Phitsanulok District, it was upgraded to a full district in 1946.[2]
The district is divided into nine sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 87 mubans, which are divisions at the village level. Many villages occupy more than one muban. There are two sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambon). Bang Krathum covers parts of tambon Bang Krathum, and Noen Kum covers the tambon Noen Kum and Wat Ta Yom. There are a further seven tambon administrative organizations (TAO).[3]
| No. | Name | Thai | Villages | Pop.[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bang Krathum | บางกระทุ่ม | 9 | 6,823 | |
| 2. | Ban Rai | บ้านไร่ | 10 | 4,558 | |
| 3. | Khok Salut | โคกสลุด | 10 | 3,265 | |
| 4. | Sanam Khli | สนามคลี | 6 | 2,519 | |
| 5. | Tha Tan | ท่าตาล | 9 | 6,868 | |
| 6. | Phai Lom | ไผ่ล้อม | 11 | 4,681 | |
| 7. | Nakhon Pa Mak | นครป่าหมาก | 13 | 6,472 | |
| 8. | Noen Kum | เนินกุ่ม | 11 | 8,968 | |
| 9. | Wat Ta Yom | วัดตายม | 8 | 4,513 |
Bang Krathum's chief crops are rice, sugar cane, fruits, oranges, tamarinds, cassavas, soy beans and mung beans.[3]
In Bang Krathum, there are a number of "banana factories" that package an assortment of dried fruits including dried bananas and tamarinds that are sold in Thailand and exported worldwide. There is also a large sugar cane production plant in the district owned by Phitsanulok Sugar Co., Ltd.[5]
Of the 51 villages in Bang Krathum District, those that occupy multiple mubans are as follows:[6]
There are 44 Theravada Buddhist temples in the district. At least one, Wat Grung See Jayrin, has a historic chedi.
In 2006, there were reported cases of leptospirosis among residents of Bang Krathum, contracted due to standing water.[8]