Introduction
This article is about the city. For other uses, see Khon Kaen (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Konkan or Kon Kan.
City Municipality in ThailandKhon Kaen
ขอนแก่นCity MunicipalityCity of Khon Kaenเทศบาลนครขอนแก่นFrom top, left to right: Aerial view of Khon Kaen City; Wat Klang Khon Kaen; Sithan Gate of Khon Kaen University, flags half-raised to honor Princess Galyani Vadhana; Khon Kaen democracy monument; statue of King Rama IV at Khon Kaen University.
FlagSealKhon KaenLocation in ThailandCoordinates: 16°26′N 102°50′E / 16.433°N 102.833°E / 16.433; 102.833Country ThailandProvinceKhon KaenDistrictMuang Khon KaenTown municipality20 Aug 1935City municipality24 Sept 1995Government • TypeCity Municipality • MayorPrasit ThongtangthaiArea • City Municipality46 km2 (18 sq mi) • Urban953.4 km2 (368.1 sq mi) • Rank10thElevation187 m (614 ft)Population (2019) • City Municipality114,459 • Density2,488/km2 (6,440/sq mi) • Urban(2024)416,988 • Urban density437.4/km2 (1,133/sq mi) Registered residentsTime zoneUTC+7 (ICT)Postcode40000Calling ode043Websitewww.kkmuni.go.th
Khon Kaen (Thai: ขอนแก่น, pronounced [kʰɔ̌(ː)n kɛ̀n]) is the capital of Khon Kaen province and the fourth-largest city in Thailand. It is one of the four major cities of Isan, Northeast Thailand, also known as the "big four of Isan", the others being Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani.
The city municipality of Khon Kaen (thesaban nakhon) acts as the governmental seat of the province, as well as the Mueang Khon Kaen district and lies 450 kilometres (280 mi) northeast of Bangkok.
Geography and demography
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Khon Kaen is on the Khorat Plateau, elevation 187 m, and is the center of the mid-northeastern provincial group of Thailand, according to the Thai government. Its coordinates are 16°26′N 102°50′E / 16.433°N 102.833°E / 16.433; 102.833. The city municipality has a population of 114,459, while the Mueang Khon Kaen district, forming the city's urban area, has a population of 416,988. Khon Kaen therefore ranks as the fourth-largest city in Thailand after Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Korat.
Location[edit]
Khon Kaen is a city in the northeastern region of Thailand. The city is bisected by Mithraphap Road, also known as the "Friendship Highway", or "Highway 2", the road linking Bangkok to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. Highway 230, a modern, multi-lane by-pass enables through-traffic to avoid the city center to the west, and connects to the airport, the new main bus station (BKS3).
Smart City[edit]
The province of Khon Kaen's 2017 population was 1.8 million with a GDP of 190 billion baht. Its Smart City development plan aims to double its GDP per person to 394,000-493,000 baht by 2029 from an average of about 192,000 baht in 2016. Khon Kaen's plan has been incorporated into Thailand's 12th national social and economic plan (2017–2021). The plan has been driven largely by the Khon Kaen Think Tank (KKTT), a group of involved citizens. The Smart City's signature project is the Khon Kaen Transit System Co (KKTS), founded in 2017. Its plans for a 26 km light rail network from Samran to Tha Phra in the Mueang Khon Kaen District are complete and awaiting Thai Cabinet approval before bidding on the project can begin. The light rail system will feature 18 to 21 stations, take two years to complete, and will cost 15 billion baht. The Land Traffic Management Commission (LTMC), a national think tank for transportation policy, has already blessed the plan.
