View source for Khon Kaen

{{About|the city}}
{{Distinguish|Konkan|Kon Kan}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Khon Kaen
| official_name      = City of Khon Kaen<br />เทศบาลนครขอนแก่น
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = {{lang|th|ขอนแก่น}}
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in Thailand|City Municipality]]
| total_type         = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| perrow = 1/2/2
| border = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image1 =
| image2 = Ubosot Wat Klang Khon Kaen.jpg
| image3 = Sithan Gate, Khon Kaen University.JPG
| image4 = Khon Kaen Democracy Monument.png
| image5 = Monument of King Rama IV at Khon Kaen University.JPG
}}
| image_caption      = From 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]].
| image_flag         = Flag of Khon Kaen Municipality.png
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_seal         = Seal of Khon Kaen.png
| seal_size          = 100px
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = 
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = 
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| image_dot_map      = 
| pushpin_map        = Thailand
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Thailand]]
| pushpin_mapsize    = 220
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|Thailand}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Thailand|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Khon Kaen province|Khon Kaen]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[districts of Thailand|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mueang Khon Kaen district|Muang Khon Kaen]]
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| parts_type         = 
| parts_style        = 
| parts              = 
| p1                 = 
| p2                 = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = City Municipality
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Prasit Thongtangthai
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Town municipality
| established_date   = 20 Aug 1935
| established_title1 = City municipality
| established_date1  = 24 Sept 1995
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_rank          = 10th
| area_total_km2     = 46
| area_total_sq_mi   = 17.76
| area_water_percent = 
| elevation_m        = 187
| elevation_ft       = 613.5
| population_as_of   = 2019
| population_footnotes = <ref name="TDD">{{Cite web |date=31 December 2019 |title=รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2562 |trans-title=Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019 |url=http://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/stat/statnew/statTDD/ |access-date=10 March 2020 |language=th |postscript=, archiving is not necessary because DOPA provides data from 1993 to future years. |department=Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior |archive-date=14 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614102009/http://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/stat/statnew/statTDD/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| population_note    = Registered residents
| population_rank    = 4th (Urban)
| population_total   = 114,459
| population_density_km2 = 2,488
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| timezone           = [[UTC+07:00|ICT]]
| utc_offset         = +7
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| coor_type          = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|16|26|N|102|50|E|region:TH|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in Thailand|Postcode]]
| postal_code        = 40000
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in Thailand|Calling ode]]
| area_code          = 043
| blank_name         = 
| blank_info         = 
| website            = {{URL|www.kkmuni.go.th}}
| footnotes          = 
| area_urban_km2     = 953.4
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 368.1
| population_urban   = 416,988
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = auto
| population_urban_footnotes = (2024)
}}

'''Khon Kaen''' ({{langx|th|ขอนแก่น}}, {{IPA|th|kʰɔ̌(ː)n kɛ̀n|pron}}) is the capital of [[Khon Kaen province]] and the [[List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population|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|thesaban nakhon]]'') acts as the governmental seat of the [[Khon Kaen province|province]], as well as the [[Mueang Khon Kaen district]] and lies {{convert|450.|km|mi}} northeast of Bangkok.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance: Bangkok to Khon Kaen |url=https://www.google.co.th/search?q=distance+bangkok+to+kalasin&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=_xuMVZ3jOY-9ugTZ-KyoAQ#q=distance+bangkok+to+Khon+Kaen |access-date=25 June 2015 |website=Google Maps}}</ref>

==Geography and demography==
Khon Kaen is on the [[Khorat Plateau]], elevation 187 m,<ref name="RID" /> and is the center of the mid-northeastern provincial group of Thailand, according to the Thai government. Its coordinates are {{coord|16|26|N|102|50|E|}}. The city municipality has a population of 114,459,<ref name="TDD" /> while the [[Mueang Khon Kaen district]], forming the city's urban area, has a population of 416,988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=สำนักบริหารการทะเบียน – The Bureau of Registration Administration (BORA), Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), Population data for the year 2024 |url=https://www.bora.dopa.go.th/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |language=th}}</ref> Khon Kaen therefore ranks as the [[List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population|fourth-largest city]] in Thailand after [[Bangkok]], [[Chiang Mai]] and [[Nakhon Ratchasima|Korat]].

===Location===
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 [[First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge|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).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-12-26 |title=Khon Kaen City's central bus terminal shuts down after 44 years |work=The Isaan Record |url=http://isaanrecord.com/2017/12/26/khon-kaen-citys-central-bus-terminal-shuts-44-years/ |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-date=2017-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122905/http://isaanrecord.com/2017/12/26/khon-kaen-citys-central-bus-terminal-shuts-44-years/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Smart City ===
The province of Khon Kaen's 2017 population was 1.8 million with a [[GDP]] of 190 billion [[Thai baht|baht]].<ref name="BP-20181014" /> 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 [[Khon Kaen Light Rail Transit|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.<ref name="BP-20181014">{{Cite news |last1=Natanri |first1=Chakkrapan |last2=Kongrut |first2=Anchalee |date=14 October 2018 |title=Khon Kaen takes lead in Thailand's race to smarten up |work=Bangkok Post |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1557742/khon-kaen-takes-lead-in-thailands-race-to-smarten-up |access-date=14 October 2018}}</ref>

==Culture==
Thailand's 2014 EU Film Festival included Khon Kaen, together with [[Chiang Mai]] and [[Bangkok]], as host locations. A selection of six films were shown in the city, including the Spanish film ''[[Winning Streak (film)|The Pelayos]]'', and the Polish film ''Walesa, Man of Hope''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2014 |title=Showtimes EU Film Festival 2014 |url=http://www.sfcinemacity.com/index.php/en/promotion-detail/Showtimes-EU-Film-Festival-2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200219/http://www.sfcinemacity.com/index.php/en/promotion-detail/Showtimes-EU-Film-Festival-2014 |archive-date=25 May 2014 |access-date=24 May 2014 |website=SFX Cinemas |publisher=SFX Cinemas}}</ref>
{{Further|topic=the Dutch-Thai band founded in 2015|Apichat Pakwan}}

==Administration==
The municipality of Khon Kaen was established on 20 August 1935, with an area of 4 square kilometers. It was later upgraded to a city municipality on 24 September 1995.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=24 September 1995 |title=พระราชกฤษฎีกา จัดตั้งเทศบาลนครขอนแก่น จังหวัดขอนแก่น พุทธศักราช ๒๔๗๘ |trans-title=Royal Decree of Khon Kaen City Municipality, Khon Kaen Province, Buddhist Era 2538 (1995) |url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2538/A/040/24.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917092803/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2538/A/040/24.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2011 |journal=Royal Thai Government Gazette |volume=112 |issue=40 Kor |pages=24–28 |access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref> The administration of the city is now responsible for an area that covers approximately 46 sq. km. and consists of 66,179 households. There are 95 communities divided into 4 zones, each with about 20-30 communities each.

==Climate==
Khon Kaen's climate is categorized as [[tropical savanna climate|tropical savanna]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Aw''), with winters that are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, a very hot month, with an average daily maximum of {{convert|36.3|°C|°F}}. The [[monsoon]] season runs from May until October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|collapsed = 
|location = Khon Kaen (1991–2020, extremes 1951-present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 37.3
|Feb record high C = 41.0
|Mar record high C = 41.8
|Apr record high C = 43.1
|May record high C = 42.8
|Jun record high C = 39.6
|Jul record high C = 40.0
|Aug record high C = 37.7
|Sep record high C = 36.5
|Oct record high C = 36.5
|Nov record high C = 37.5
|Dec record high C = 37.5
|year record high C = 
|Jan record low C = 5.7
|Feb record low C = 10.3
|Mar record low C = 11.1
|Apr record low C = 17.2
|May record low C = 17.4
|Jun record low C = 21.1
|Jul record low C = 21.0
|Aug record low C = 21.1
|Sep record low C = 20.3
|Oct record low C = 14.6
|Nov record low C = 9.4
|Dec record low C = 5.6
|year record low C = 5.6
|Jan high C = 	30.8
|Feb high C = 	32.8
|Mar high C = 	35.2
|Apr high C = 	36.2
|May high C = 	34.9
|Jun high C = 	34.0
|Jul high C = 	33.0
|Aug high C = 	32.4
|Sep high C = 	32.0
|Oct high C = 	31.8
|Nov high C = 	31.6
|Dec high C = 	30.3
| year high C =
|Jan mean C = 	23.8
|Feb mean C = 	25.9
|Mar mean C = 	28.6
|Apr mean C = 	29.9
|May mean C = 	29.1
|Jun mean C = 	28.8
|Jul mean C = 	28.2
|Aug mean C = 	27.6
|Sep mean C = 	27.3
|Oct mean C = 	26.8
|Nov mean C = 	25.5
|Dec mean C = 	23.7
| year mean C =
|Jan low C = 	18.1
|Feb low C = 	20.0
|Mar low C = 	23.0
|Apr low C = 	24.8
|May low C = 	25.1
|Jun low C = 	25.1
|Jul low C = 	24.6
|Aug low C = 	24.3
|Sep low C = 	24.1
|Oct low C = 	22.9
|Nov low C = 	20.7
|Dec low C = 	18.2
| year low C =
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 	6.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 	17.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 	38.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 	94.6
|May precipitation mm = 	155.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 	145.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 	177.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 	222.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 	246.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 	102.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 	21.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 	5.1
| year precipitation mm = 	1231.4
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 	0.8
|Feb precipitation days = 	1.6
|Mar precipitation days = 	3.3
|Apr precipitation days = 	5.9
|May precipitation days = 	11.2
|Jun precipitation days = 	10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 	12.4
|Aug precipitation days = 	14.4
|Sep precipitation days = 	15.1
|Oct precipitation days = 	6.8
|Nov precipitation days = 	1.6
|Dec precipitation days = 	0.5
|year precipitation days = 	84.0
|Jan humidity = 	64.4
|Feb humidity = 	61.9
|Mar humidity = 	61.2
|Apr humidity = 	64.8
|May humidity = 	74.0
|Jun humidity = 	75.8
|Jul humidity = 	78.2
|Aug humidity = 	81.1
|Sep humidity = 	83.3
|Oct humidity = 	76.9
|Nov humidity = 	69.3
|Dec humidity = 	64.5
| year humidity = 	71.3
|Jan sun = 237.4
|Feb sun = 237.3
|Mar sun = 244.1
|Apr sun = 223.5
|May sun = 189.6
|Jun sun = 154.3
|Jul sun = 136.5
|Aug sun = 128.0
|Sep sun = 144.9
|Oct sun = 209.0
|Nov sun = 221.8
|Dec sun = 221.7
|year sun = 2348.1
|Jand sun = 8.9
|Febd sun = 8.6
|Mard sun = 8.9
|Aprd sun = 6.8
|Mayd sun = 6.4
|Jund sun = 5.2
|Juld sun = 3.9
|Augd sun = 3.8
|Sepd sun = 4.8
|Octd sun = 6.4
|Novd sun = 7.3
|Decd sun = 8.3
|yeard sun = 6.6
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Thailand/CSV/KhonKaen_48381.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (daily sun 1981–2010)<ref name="RID">{{Cite web |title=ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith) |url=http://water.rid.go.th/hwm/cropwater/CWRdata/ETo/ETo_PenMon_2554.pdf |access-date=1 August 2016 |publisher=Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department |page=48 |language=th}}</ref> (extremes)<ref name=TMD1>{{cite web
| url = http://climate.tmd.go.th/content/file/75
| title = Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010
| publisher = Thai Meteorological Department
| accessdate = 4 August 2016
| archive-date = 26 December 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181226035029/http://climate.tmd.go.th/content/file/75%0A
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |date=2 May 2022 |title=48381: Khon Kaen (Thailand) |url=https://ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=48381&ano=2022&mes=5&day=3&hora=18&min=0&ndays=30 |access-date=3 May 2022 |website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET}}</ref>
}}

==Notable people==
*[[Kaoklai Kaennorsing]] - Muay Thai fighter
*[[Mindy]]
*[[Thaiboy Digital]] - musician
*[[Tee Ritson]] - [[rugby league]] player
*[[Tin Sritrai]] - racing driver
*[[Mimi Tao]], fashion model<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Vitkute |first=Demi |date=2019-03-15 |title=Mimi Tao was the first transgender person on ‘Project Runway.’ She says she can’t change the industry alone. |url=https://www.thelily.com/mimi-tao-was-the-first-transgender-person-on-project-runway-she-says-she-cant-change-the-industry-alone/ |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references responsive="0" /><!-- This only works if there are >10 refs -->
==External links==
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Khon Kaen}}
* [https://archive.today/20140524075641/http://www.tourismthailand.org/Where-to-Go/Khon-Kaen Tourism Thailand official website]

{{commons category|Khon Kaen}}
{{Metropolitan cities of Thailand}}
{{Most populous cities in Thailand}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Khon Kaen| ]]
[[Category:Isan]]
[[Category:Populated places in Khon Kaen province]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Thailand]]
[[Category:Smart cities]]