Surat Thani Province
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Surat Thani สุราษฎร์ธานี |
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| Province | ||
Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai, Ko Pha Ngan
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| Nickname(s): Surat | ||
 Map of Thailand highlighting Surat Thani Province |
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| Country | Thailand | |
| Capital | Surat Thani | |
| Government | ||
| • Governor | Uaichai Innak (since October 2016) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 12,891.5 km2 (4,977.4 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | Ranked 6th | |
| Population (2014) | ||
| • Total | 1,040,230 | |
| • Rank | Ranked 21st | |
| • Density | 81/km2 (210/sq mi) | |
| • Density rank | Ranked 65th | |
| Time zone | ICT (UTC+7) | |
| ISO 3166 code | TH-84 | |
Surat Thani (often shortened to Surat, Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี) former name Chaiya Province is the largest of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani means "city of good people", a title given to the city by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI).
The area of Surat Thani was already inhabited in prehistoric times by Semang and Malayan tribes. Founded in the 3rd century, the Srivijaya kingdom dominated the Malay Peninsula until the 13th century. The city of Chaiya contains ruins from the Srivijaya period, and it was probably a regional capital of the kingdom. Some Thai historians even argue that it was the kingdom's capital for a time, but this is disputed. Wiang Sa was another important settlement of the time.
After the fall of the Srivijaya, the area was divided into the cities (mueang) of Chaiya, Thatong (now Kanchanadit), and Khirirat Nikhom. Chaiya was administered directly from the Thai capital, while Thatong and Khirirat were controlled by the Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom. In 1899, they were all merged into a single province called Chaiya. In 1915, the court of the Monthon Chumphon was transferred to Bandon, which received the new name of Surat Thani on 29 July 1915, during a visit of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). This was likely influenced by the major port city of Surat in Gujarat, India. The monthon was also renamed Surat. In 1926 it was abolished and incorporated into monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat. The monthon was dissolved in 1933, and the province became the first level administrative subdivision.
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