Chana district
Chana is a district in the southeastern part of Songkhla province, southern Thailand.
Geography
Neighboring districts are : Thepha, Na Thawi, Hat Yai, Na Mom, and Mueang Songkhla of Songkhla Province. To the northeast is the Gulf of Thailand.History
Originally, Chana together with Palian, Thepha and Songkhla was one of four mueangs subordinate to Mueang Phatthalung. When Songkhla was split off from Phatthalung and made a direct subordinate of Bangkok, Chana was then placed under Songkhla.The location of the town was moved several times, so when it was made a district in the thesaphiban administrative reforms at the beginning of the 20th century, the district office was in present-day Na Thawi. The location turned out to be inconvenient, so it was moved to Ban Na. In 1917 the district was renamed to Ban Na after the central tambon. In 1924 the name was changed back to Chana by the government to avoid confusion with the district Ban Na in Surat Thani Province and Ban Na in Nakhon Nayok Province.
Etymology
The name Chana is a Thai corruption of chenok, its original name in Malay.Economy
On 7 May 2019, the Prayut Chan-o-cha-led government approved an 18.7 billion baht "Southern Economic Corridor", also known as the "Southern Economic Zone", centered on Chana District. The scheme envisions transforming 16,753 rai of agricultural land into industrial zones: a deep-sea port; light industry ; heavy industry ; four 3,700 megawatt power plants ; import/export infrastructure ; logistical infrastructure ; and recreational areas and accommodations. The government claims the project will provide jobs for more than 100,000 people. Local people, noting the environmental issues created by the Eastern Economic Corridor, are mobilising to stop the project.A parallel effort, also called the "Southern Economic Corridor", but not involving Songkhla Province, aims at development of high-speed rail linking Bangkok to Surat Thani province, a double-track rail link from Chumphon to Ranong, a deep-sea Ranong port, and a "Royal Coast" tourism cluster, involving Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong provinces.
Administration
Central administration
Chana is divided into 14 sub-districts, which are further subdivided into 139 administrative villages.| No. | Name | Thai | Malay | Villages | Pop. |
| 1. | Ban Na | บ้านนา | Kampung Bendang | 10 | 16,150 |
| 2. | Paching | ป่าชิง | Hutan Chengal | 9 | 4,911 |
| 3. | Saphan Mai Kaen | สะพานไม้แก่น | Jambatan Kayu Kera | 8 | 6,598 |
| 4. | Sakom | สะกอม | Pantai Sakom | 9 | 8,362 |
| 5. | Nawa | นาหว้า | Bendang Wangi | 12 | 7,655 |
| 6. | Na Thap | นาทับ | Bendang Taboh | 14 | 12,977 |
| 7. | Nam Khao | น้ำขาว | Air Putih | 11 | 3,872 |
| 8. | Khun Tat Wai | ขุนตัดหวาย | Potong Rotan | 9 | 3,097 |
| 9. | Tha Mosai | ท่าหมอไทร | Tembusai | 11 | 6,620 |
| 10. | Chanong | จะโหนง | Cenong | 11 | 7,661 |
| 11. | Khu | คู | Parit | 9 | 6,411 |
| 12. | Khae | แค | Pokok Ara | 7 | 4,323 |
| 13. | Khlong Pia | คลองเปียะ | Terusan Pia | 11 | 5,478 |
| 14. | Taling Chan | ตลิ่งชัน | Tebing Cempaka | 8 | 10,047 |
Local administration
There are three sub-district municipalities in the district:- Chana consisting of parts of sub-district Ban Na.
- Ban Na consisting of parts of sub-district Ban Na.
- Na Thap consisting of sub-district Na Thap.
- Pa Ching consisting of sub-district Pa Ching.
- Saphan Mai Kaen consisting of sub-district Saphan Mai Kaen.
- Sakom consisting of sub-district Sakom.
- Na Wa consisting of sub-district Na Wa.
- Nam Khao consisting of sub-district Nam Khao.
- Khun Tat Wai consisting of sub-district Khun Tat Wai.
- Tha Mo Sai consisting of sub-district Tha Mo Sai.
- Chanong consisting of sub-district Chanong.
- Khu consisting of sub-district Khu.
- Khae consisting of sub-district Khae.
- Khlong Pia consisting of sub-district Khlong Pia.
- Taling Chan consisting of sub-district Taling Chan.