Don Mueang District

Don Mueang (, , ; lit. 'the upland where the town is located'; often spelled "Don Muang") is one of the 50 districts ("khet") of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bounded by (from north clockwise): 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. Don Mueang regarded as the uppermost area of Bangkok.
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.
Initially, Don Mueang was an area of groves and fields, it was the habitat of various wildlife such as elephant. The old name for the area was "Don I Yiao" (ดอนอีเหยี่ยว) literally meaning 'upland of hawks' due to its geography and an abundance of those birds of prey, including vultures. There were only about 50 households living along the Khlong Prem Prachakon canal and the current uppermost of airport area. There was only one transportation route, namely railway.
The new name was given by King Vajiravudh when the Royal Thai Air Force base was established there. When air force base and airport were established prosperity gradually entered Don Mueang respectively.
Administration.
The district is divided into three sub-districts ("khwaengs").
Politics.
Don Mueang has been a stronghold for the Pheu Thai Party (and its predecessors, Thai Rak Thai Party and People's Power 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 re-election to replace the former MP Karun Hosakul, who had been disqualified by the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT). It was the Democrat Party's first victory in the district in almost 40 years.
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:
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.
Harrow International School, Bangkok is in the district.