| Official Name: | Khon San |
| Native Name: | คอนสาร |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chaiyaphum |
| Subdivision Type2: | Seat |
| Subdivision Name2: | Khon San |
| Subdivision Type3: | Subdistrict |
| Subdivision Name3: | 8 |
| Subdivision Type4: | Muban |
| Subdivision Name4: | 85 |
| Established Title: | District established |
| Population Total: | 62037 |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Postal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 36180 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Geocode |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 3613 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 16.6133°N 101.9197°W |
Khon San (Thai: คอนสาร, in Thai pronounced as /kʰɔ̄ːn sǎːn/) is the northernmost district (amphoe) of Chaiyaphum province, northeastern Thailand.
In the early of the Rattanakosin era at the end of the 18th century, Mr. Phumi led the people from Mueang Nakhon Thai district, a subordinate of Phitsanulok, to establish their new town in this area. Mr. Phumi who was the town leader sent tribute to King Rama I. The king promoted him to be Muen Aram Kamhaeng and Luang Phichit Songkhram later, the first governor position of Khon San.
As the way from Bangkok to Khon San was so long, government officers had to carry royal command documents (Thai: San สาร) by a wooden bar on their shoulders. This method of carrying is called khon (คอน) in Thai.
In the reign of King Rama V, the town was downgraded to be a subdistrict of Phu Khiao district. On 16 August 1958 it was again separated from Phu Khiao and became a minor district (king amphoe), then containing the three tambons Khon San, Nun Khun, and Thung Phra.[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 10 December 1959.[2]
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise): Phu Pha Man and Chum Phae of Khon Kaen province; Phu Khiao, Kaset Sombun, and Nong Bua Daeng of Chaiyaphum Province; Mueang Phetchabun, Lom Sak, and Nam Nao of Phetchabun province.
In the south of the district is the Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chulabhorn Dam creates an artificial lake on the Nam Phrom River, covering about 12 km2. The 700 metre long, 70 metre high dam was finished in 1973 and is used for generating hydroelectric power.
Khon San is a fertile district because there are many springs with water springing throughout the year.
Khon San is divided into eight subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 85 administrative villages (mubans).
| No. | Name | Thai | Villages | Pop.[3] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Khon San | Thai: คอนสาร | 9 | 8,392 | |
| 2. | Thung Phra | Thai: ทุ่งพระ | 10 | 5,600 | |
| 3. | Non Khun | Thai: โนนคูณ | 11 | 7,901 | |
| 4. | Huai Yang | Thai: ห้วยยาง | 19 | 15,493 | |
| 5. | Thung Luilai | Thai: ทุ่งลุยลาย | 7 | 6,162 | |
| 6. | Dong Bang | Thai: ดงบัง | 9 | 5,540 | |
| 7. | Thung Na Lao | Thai: ทุ่งนาเลา | 11 | 6,543 | |
| 8. | Dong Klang | Thai: ดงกลาง | 9 | 6,406 |
There are three subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambons) in the district:
There are six subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO) in the district:
Areca nut is an important cash crop of the district.[4]