Pak Tho District

Pak Tho (, ) is a district ("amphoe") in the southern part of Ratchaburi Province, western Thailand.
"Pak Tho" means 'mouth of a water pipe'. It originates from the fact that the area named "Nong Thale" ('sea pond') is rather low and thus during raining season was usually flooded. At the only outlet of this area the water current was strong like a water pipe. 
History.
Around 1900, the government separated part of Mueang Ratchaburi District and created a new district named Tha Nat Wat Pradu (ท่านัดวัดประดู่). The district office was in front of "Wat" Pradu at the "Khlong" Wat Pradu in "tambon" Chom Prathat, today in Wat Phleng District. "Tambon" Pak Tho was included in this district. As it was also near the Om River, the district was also known as Maenam Om (แม่น้ำอ้อม). Later the district office was found to be inconveniently located. During the dry season the water level in the canal was too low and there was no road connection. In 1914 it was moved to a new location in "tambon" Pak Tho, near a railway station. The area around the old district office became the minor district Wat Phleng.
On 10 April 1991, the district was visited by Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. He was presented a petition by locals asking for help with local water resources, specifically the lack of water for farming. The crown prince passed along the need to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and other agencies. the district has five working reservoirs, a sixth in the planning stage, and Vajiralongkorn has ascended to the throne of Thailand.
Geography.
Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise) Ban Kha, Chom Bueng, Mueang Ratchaburi, and Wat Phleng of Ratchaburi Province; Amphawa of Samut Songkhram Province; and Khao Yoi and Nong Ya Plong of Phetchaburi Province.
Administration.
The district is divided into 12 sub-districts ("tambons"), which are further subdivided into 88 villages ("mubans"). Pak Tho is a sub-district municipality ("thesaban tambon") which covers parts of "tambon" Pak Tho. There are a further 11 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Economy.
The district is now farmed intensively year-round due to the water provided by the five reservoirs built since 1991. They are: