Chonburi Province


Chonburi is a province of Thailand located in eastern Thailand. Its capital is also named Chonburi. Neighbouring provinces are Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, and Rayong, while the Gulf of Thailand is to the west. Pattaya, a major tourism destination in Thailand, is located in Chonburi, along with Laem Chabang, the country's primary seaport. The population of the province has grown rapidly and now totals 1.7 million residents, although a large portion of the population is floating or unregistered. The registered population as of 31 December 2018 was 1.535 million.

Toponymy

The word chon originates from the Sanskrit word जल; jala meaning 'water', and the word buri from Sanskrit पुरि; puri meaning 'town' or 'city', hence the name of the province means 'city of water'.

History

Chonburi has been recognized since the Dvaravati Period and during the reigns of the Khmer Empire and the Sukhothai Kingdom. Chonburi was initially only a small agricultural town and fishing community, but during the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Chonburi was classified as a commodore class city. On the Triphum map, it appeared along with more major towns such as Bangsai, Bangplasoi, Bangphrarua, and Banglamung. Although it was a small town, it enriched the natural resources both on land and at sea. Moreover, those in Chonburi contacted the Chinese sailors, who came to trade with Siam.

Prehistoric

Chonburi has been settled since the prehistoric period. An important Neolithic town, Khok Phanom Di located in the Phanthong river lowlands, was found by archaeologists in 1979. Beads, bracelets, patterned pottery and polished stone axes to harvest and hunting were all found. It is supposed that the Chonburi area was the site of prosperous ancient towns such as Phra Rot, Sri Phalo and Phaya Rae.

Historic

Rattanakosin Period

In the reign of Rama III, Indha-asa of Vientiane took many immigrants to Siam. The Siamese King at the time allowed them to establish a habitat between Chonburi and Chachoengsao.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the hill Khao Sam Muk, on which there is a sala with a statue of the goddess Chao Mae Sahm Muk, who, it is believed, protects seafarers and the local population.
The provincial tree and flower is the New Guinea rosewood.
The provincial motto is "Beautiful beaches, delicious khao lam, sweet sugar cane, delicate basketry products, and buffalo racing."

Geography

The province is on the Bay of Bangkok, the northern end of the Gulf of Thailand. The Khao Khiao mountain range stretches from the northwest to the southeast of the province. The plains of the north were long used for farming. Laem Chabang, between Chonburi and Pattaya, is one of the few deep-water harbours of Thailand.
The provincial permanent legal population rose at nearly four per cent annually, from 1,040,865 in 2000 to 1,554,365 in 2010. There is a large floating population of long-term non-Thai residents without permanent status, on a perpetual tourist visa and/or migrant workers, as well as heavy, short-term tourist influxes.

Demographics

Religion

According to a 2015 survey, around 97.87% of the population of Chonburi practices Buddhism, followed by Islam with 1.56% and Christianity with 0.60%.
ReligionCensus 2015%
Buddhism1,256,08197.87%
Islam20,0001.56%
Christianity7,7070.60%
Other religions8000.06%

Administrative divisions

Provincial government

Chonburi Province consists of 11 districts. These are further subdivided into 92 subdistricts and 710 villages.
Map#NameThaiPopulation Subdivisions
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— Districts —----
1Mueang Chonburiเมืองชลบุรี335,06318 tambon — 107 muban
2Ban Buengบ้านบึง103,3778 tambon — 52 muban
3Nong Yaiหนองใหญ่23,6255 tambon — 24 muban
4Bang Lamungบางละมุง315,4378 tambon — 72 muban
5Phan Thongพานทอง69,42911 tambon — 76 muban
6Phanat Nikhomพนัสนิคม124,63720 tambon — 185 muban
7Si Rachaศรีราชา301,7998 tambon — 73 muban
8Ko Sichangเกาะสีชัง4,5601 tambon — 7 muban
9Sattahipสัตหีบ165,4925 tambon — 40 muban
10Bo Thongบ่อทอง50,3186 tambon — 47 muban
11Ko Chanเกาะจันทร์37,6702 tambon — 27 muban

Local government

The local governments are overseen by the Pattaya City Special Local Government in Pattaya and the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation throughout Chonburi. The 47 municipalities are split up into two city municipalities, 10 town municipalities, and 35 subdistrict municipalities. Local communities are also overseen by 50 subdistrict administrative organisations.

Transport

Road

The Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway is linked with Bangkok's Outer Ring Road with another intersection at Si Nakharin and Rama IX Junction.
The Bang Na-Trat Highway from Bang Na travels through Bang Phli and crosses the Bang Pakong River into Chonburi. There is a Chonburi bypass that meets Sukhumvit Road, passing Bang Saen Beach, Bang Phra, Pattaya and Sattahip.

Airports

Chonburi is about by road from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country's largest international airport. By road, it is accessed from Sukhumvit Road and Motorway 7 from Bangkok. Chonburi is also served by scheduled flights via U-Tapao International Airport, which is a 45-minute drive south of the city.

Highways

The main road through Chonburi is Thailand Route 3, also known as Sukhumvit Road. To the northeast, it connects to Bangkok, and to the south, it connects to Rayong Province, Chanthaburi Province and Trat Province. Route 344 leads east to Klaeng. Route 7 runs parallel to Route 3 but bypasses the densely populated coastal area, connecting to the beach resort city of Pattaya.

Rail

The State Railway of Thailand, the national passenger rail system, provides service in the province, with the main station being Chon Buri Railway Station.

Health

Many hospitals exist in Chonburi, both public and private. Chonburi has one university hospital, Burapha University Hospital. Its main hospital operated by the Ministry of Public Health is Chonburi Hospital. Hospitals operated by other organisations, such as the Thai Red Cross Society's Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital and the Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital run by the Royal Thai Navy, are also found in the province.

Educational facilities

Universities

Since 2003, the United Nations Development Programme in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at a sub-national level using the Human Achievement Index, a composite index covering all eight key areas of human development. The National Economic and Social Development Board has taken over this task since 2017.

Tourism

Some nine million visitors to the province were recorded in 2012, of which 6.1 million were from abroad, 2.2 million of these being Russian.
One major tourist attraction is the Chonburi Buffalo Race, which takes place in the districts of Ban Bueng and Nong Yai. The animals are dressed outrageously or creatively by owners. Assembled in the courtyard in front of the town hall, the buffaloes partake in racing or physical fitness and fashion contests. The Chonburi Buffalo Race festival started over 100 years ago. Usually, the races will be complemented with booths selling locally-made items, stage performances, games, and beauty contests. The annual Buffalo Race is held around the 11th lunar month, normally in October. It takes seven days and takes place on the field in front of the city and provincial government offices. The highlight of the festival is the buffalo race, which takes place on the last two days. This race is long. The prize for the first nose past the finish line is a trophy and some money.
Songkran day in Bangsaen is a tradition that has been held continuously for over ten years at Bang Saen Beach and Laem Thaen. The event takes place between April 16–17 of each year. The highlight of this event is a contest in which the contestants build a sand Buddha at Bangsaen Beach. In each Buddha sand arch is a decoration. The combination of the sea atmosphere and Thai decorations has helped this become one of the most popular Songkran festivals in Thailand. Other activities also take place, such as meriting alms to monks, bathing Buddha images, pouring water on the elders, traditional sporting events, sea boxing competitions, and oyster sheep competitions. Seafood and local food are often sold, along with other local products as part of One Tambon One Product. Well-known artists have also given concerts at the event.