Wang Thong was established in 1895 as Nakhon Pa Mak District, named after the central tambon, the district office being located in Ban Sam Ruen. However, the original location was difficult to reach and also flooded every year, and the district office was moved to the east side of the Wang Thong River, where the Wang Thong Municipal Market now stands.
In 1928 the government created Bang Krathum district, and tambons Phai Lom, Noen Kum, and Nakhon Pa Mak were assigned to it.[1] Tambons Kaeng Sopha and Ban Klang of Nakhon Thai district were reassigned to Wang Thong.
When the buildings on the east bank of Wang Thong River were washed away by a flood, the district office relocated to its present site. In 1931 the district name was changed to Pa Mak, finally designated as Wang Thong in 1939.[2]
The district is divided into 11 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 166 villages (mubans). Wang Thong is sub-district municipality (thesaban tambon) which covers part of the same-named tambon. There are a further 11 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Wang Thong was hit by severe flooding in 2007. By 8 October 2007, flooding in the Wang Thong District had killed at least three people, and the district was declared a disaster zone.[5]
