| Official Name: | Klaeng |
| Native Name: | แกลง |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Rayong |
| Subdivision Type2: | Seat |
| Population Total: | 77,286[1] |
| Population As Of: | 2008 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Postal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 21110 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Geocode |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 2103 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 12.7783°N 101.6533°W |
Klaeng (in Thai pronounced as /klɛ̄ːŋ/) is a district (amphoe) on the coast of Rayong province, eastern Thailand.
Klaeng's history dates back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Due to its location mid-way between Mueang Rayong district and Chanthaburi province and due to its abundance of natural resources such as fertile rice fields and many watercourses, it has been a magnet for immigration.
Its name "Klaeng" is believed to be a variant of the Chong word Ka-laeng (กะแล่ง), which means "walking catfish".[2]
Since the Ayutthaya period, Klaeng has been a place to gather people for war service.[3]
In the reign of King Rama V, Mueang Klaeng was a fourth class city under Monthon Chanthaburi. The former city offices were in Ban Laem Mueang, Tambon Paknam Prasae. In 1897 the office was moved to Ban Pho Thong, on the north side of Wat Pho Thong. In 1908 Mueang Klaeng was downgraded to a district of Rayong Province.[4]
Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise): Mueang Rayong, Wang Chan, and Khao Chamao of Rayong Province; Kaeng Hang Maeo and Na Yai Am of Chanthaburi province. To the south is the Gulf of Thailand.
Klaeng's main watercourse is the Prasae River.[5]
The district is divided into 15 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 146 villages (mubans). Klaeng is a town (thesaban mueang) which covers parts of tambons Thang Kwian and Wang Wa. There are a further four sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons): Kong Din covers parts of tambon Kong Din, Thung Khwai Kin parts of tambons Thung Khwai Kin and Khlong Pun, Pak Nam Prasae, parts of tambons Pak Nam Krasae and Sunthorn Phu, and the entiretambons of Kram and Chak Phong. There are also 15 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai | Villages | Pop.[6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Thang Kwian | ทางเกวียน | 10 | 23,040 | |
| 2. | Wang Wa | วังหว้า | 14 | 10,661 | |
| 3. | Chak Don | ชากโดน | 8 | 4,786 | |
| 4. | Noen Kho | เนินฆ้อ | 9 | 4,525 | |
| 5. | Kram | กร่ำ | 6 | 5,574 | |
| 6. | Chak Phong | ชากพง | 7 | 8,949 | |
| 7. | Krasae Bon | กระแสบน | 14 | 7,406 | |
| 8. | Ban Na | บ้านนา | 13 | 8,250 | |
| 9. | Thung Khwai Kin | ทุ่งควายกิน | 13 | 14,808 | |
| 10. | Kong Din | กองดิน | 11 | 10,175 | |
| 11. | Khlong Pun | คลองปูน | 9 | 5,871 | |
| 12. | Phang Rat | พังราด | 8 | 6,095 | |
| 13. | Pak Nam Krasae | ปากน้ำกระแส | 8 | 6,884 | |
| 17. | Huai Yang | ห้วยยาง | 9 | 3,646 | |
| 18. | Song Salueng | สองสลึง | 8 | 5,619 |