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Chonburi province

Chonburi
ชลบุรี
Province
Official seal of Chonburi
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Chonburi Province
Map of Thailand highlighting Chonburi Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Chonburi
Government
 • Governor Phakkhrathon Thianchai (since October 2016)
Area
 • Total 4,363 km2 (1,685 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 51st
Population (2015)
 • Total 1,455,039
 • Rank Ranked 16th
 • Density rank Ranked 13th
Time zone ICT
ISO 3166 code TH-20

Chonburi (Thai: ชลบุรี, rtgsChon Buri,  [tɕ͡ʰōn bū.rīː]) is an eastern province (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, and Rayong. To the west is the Gulf of Thailand. Chonburi is home to Thailand's largest tourist oriented city, Pattaya (also spelled Phatthaya), it is the only province outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Area to connect by an eight-lane motorway to Bangkok, 80 km distant. It is home to Thailand's largest and primary seaport, it has a thriving migrant and expatriate population. Due to these factors, the province's population is growing rapidly, with currently some 1.7 million residents (albeit with a large floating or unregistered population). The registered population as of 31 December 2012 was 1.36 million.

From historical evidence, Mueang Chonburi has been settled since sometime during the Ayutthaya period of Thai history. The region for centuries was one of small towns such as Bang Sai, Bang Pla Soi, and Bang Phra. King Rama V combined these to form Chonburi Province.

The word "chon" originates from the Sanskrit word "jala" meaning water, and the word "buri" from Sanskrit "puri" meaning "town" or "city". Hence the name of the province literally means "city of water".

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, while the fertile plains of the north were long used for farming. In Laem Chabang, in the south of the province, is one of the few deep-water harbours of Thailand.


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