Don Mueang district

Don Mueang is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bounded by : Mueang [Pathum Thani district|Mueang Pathum Thani] and Lam Luk Ka of Pathum Thani province; Sai Mai, Bang Khen and Lak Si of Bangkok; and Pak Kret of Nonthaburi province. The district is best known as the location of Don Mueang International Airport.

History

Don Mueang was once part of Bang Khen, but it became a district in its own right in 1989. Later in 1997, the southern part of Don Mueang was split off to establish a new district, Lak Si.
Don Mueang was originally called "Don I Yiao" because of its elevated terrain. The area did not flood and was rich in wildlife, especially birds of prey including hawks, hence the name. At that time, only about 50 households lived in the area, concentrated around what is now the northern end of Don Mueang International Airport; the only way to access the area was by Don Mueang [railway station |railway].
The new name, Don Mueang, was given by King Vajiravudh when a Royal Thai Air Force base was established there. As both the air force base and later the airport took shape, prosperity gradually came to Don Mueang.

Places

Administration

The district is divided into three sub-districts.

Politics

Don Mueang has been a stronghold for the Pheu Thai Party, winning in every general and gubernatorial elections after the 2006 coup and is considered a "deep red" district. The last time the Democrats had an MP in the constituency was in 1976. However in late-2012, Kanoknuch Naksuwanpha, a Democrat and a long-time local politician, won an upset election to secure her seat on the city council. It is believed that the reason she won was because of her long ties with Don Mueang as she built her political base in the area for decades.
Later in the mid-2013, Tankhun Jitt-itsara, a Democrat candidate, defeated Yuranunt Pamornmontri, a Pheu Thai candidate, in the Don Mueang by-election to replace the former MP Karun Hosakul, who had been disqualified by the Election Commission of Thailand. It was the Democrat Party's first victory in the district in almost 40 years.

MPs">Members of parliament">MPs

1995–1996: Paveena Hongsakul, Hangthong Thammawattana, Sumit Sundaravej
1996–2000: Paveena Hongsakul, Hangthong Thammawattana, Sumit Sundaravej
2001–2005: M.R. Damrongdit Disakul
2005–2006: Janista Lewchalermvongse
2007–2011: Anusorn Punthong, Anudith Nakornthap, Karun Hosakul
2011–2014: Surachat Thianthong
2011–2013: Karun Hosakul
2013–2014: Tankhun Jitt-itsara
Vacant due to 2014 [Thai coup d'état]
2019–2023: Karun Hosakul
2023–present: Ekkarach Udomumnouy

Electoral district

2007 – Bangkok 5th district
2011 – Bangkok 11th district, Bangkok 12th district
2019 – Bangkok 10th district
2023 – Bangkok 10th district

District Council

The district council for Don Mueang has eight members who serve four-year terms. 2006 [Thailand local elections] were last held on 30 April 2006. The results were:

Chart Thai Party: seven seats
Thai Rak Thai Party: one seat

Economy

The economy is dominated by the presence of Don Mueang International Airport. Airports of Thailand has its head office at Don Mueang. Thai Lion Air also has its head office in the district. The head offices of R Airlines and Solar Air are on the property of Don Mueang Airport.

Education

is in the district.