Wat Chan, Phitsanulok


Wat Chan is a subdistrict in the Mueang Phitsanulok District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. In 2022, it had a population of 9,171 and 4,845 households. In this subdistrict was the first cooperative in Thailand registered.

Geography

The topography of Wat Chan is fertile lowlands with an area of 11.26 km2 of which a section immediately northwest of the Nan river and a section southeast of this river, but separated by an area annexed by the city of Phitsanulok, with a forest and a pond rich in marine life. The subdistrict is bordered to the north by Phlai Chumphon and Ban Khlong subdistricts, to the east by the city of Phitsanulok, to the south by Bueng Phra subdistrict and to the west by Tha Thong subdistrict. Wat Chan subdistrict lies in the Nan Basin, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed.

History

ฺWat Chan Subdistrict Administrative Organization - SAO was established, published 30 January 1996 in Royal Thai Government Gazette, volume 113, section 9 Ngor. On 9 March 1999 Wat Chan subdistrict lost the villages Moo1, Moo3, Moo5 and Moo6 to the growing city of Phitsanulok. The new borders are located 200 meter south of the Barom Trilokanat road and west of the Chaiyanuphap road.

Administration

Central government

The administration of Wat Chan SAO is responsible for an area that covers 7,038 rai ~ and consists of six administrative villages, as of 2022: 9,171 people and 4,845 households.
VillageEnglishThaiPeopleHouseholds
Moo2Ban Wat Chanบ้านวัดจันทร์1,556683
Moo4Ban Wat Chanบ้านวัดจันทร์2,0201,214
Moo7Ban Donบ้านดอน2,8041,616
Moo8Ban Na Pho Daengบ้านนาโพธิ์แดง638239
Moo9Ban Wat Chanบ้านวัดจันทร์23986
Moo10Ban Wat Chan Tawan Tokบ้านวัดจันทร์ตะวันตก1,9141,007

Local government

Wat Chan Subdistrict Administrative Organization - Wat Chan SAO covers the whole Wat Chan subdistrict.
Administrative villages contain many villages such as:
  • Moo2 - Charoen Suk
  • Moo4 - Kitsasiri
  • Moo8 - Panasiri
  • Moo10- Wana Lake Home, Wana Town Home

    Logo

The Wat Chan SAO logo shows the office of the first cooperative in Thailand.

Temples

Wat Chan subdistrict is home to the following active temple, where Theravada Buddhism is practiced by local residents: Wat Ratchamonthop colloquially referred to as Wat Luang Pho To or Wat Takrai is a Buddhist temple in Ban Don. During the Second World War, the temple was bombed by the Axis powers due to its proximity to a military camp and became a ruin. Even the main Buddha Image of the temple was destroyed. The temple has been abandoned and later restored, while it became a royal temple with the name Wat Ratchamonthop.
Originally there were three more Buddhist temples in this subdistrict:
  • Wat Pan Phi
  • Wat Chan Tawan Ook
  • Wat Chan Tawan Tok
But due to the annexation of villages by the city of Phitsanulok in 1999, these three temples are no longer in Wat Chan subdistrict.

Infrastructure

Education

  • Community learning center
  • Kindergarten

    Healthcare

There is Wat Chan health-promoting hospital in Ban Bo.
Further, every administrative village has its own community primary health center.

Transportation

Major road is:
  • Highway 117, Phitsanulok-Nakhon Sawan route.

    Electricity

Almost every household in Wat Chan subdistrict have access to the electricity network of Provincial Electricity Authority.

Communications

All households have access to the fixed and mobile telephone network.

Waterworks

All households of Wat Chan have access to the water network of Provincial Waterworks Authority.

Economy

Of the population 30% are engaged in agriculture, of which rice is the main product.
Farmers count for 1%, Animal husbandary 1%, temporary employees 53% and trading 45%.
Retail, hotels, restaurants and factories are mainly located along highway 117. The following companies play a role in the employment service:
  • Global House
  • Major Furniture Mall
  • Schlumberger - Phitsanulok - Base.

    First cooperative in Thailand

Krom Muen Pitaya Longkorn was the "Father of Thai Cooperatives". On 26 February 1916 he was the first cooperative registrar with "Wat Chan Cooperative Unlimited". The start was with 16 members and a working capital of 3,080 baht. As of 2018 the cooperative had 6,691 members in 59 groups.