Khon Kaen Province was officially established in 1797 during the reign of King Rama I. Phraya Nakhon Sri Borirak, a noble from Roi Et, led his people to settle in the area known today as Khon Kaen. Initially established at Bueng Bon in present-day Mueang District, the city was founded as a strategic settlement under the jurisdiction of Nakhon Ratchasima, pledging loyalty and services to the central administration. Over the following decades, Khon Kaen’s location shifted several times to accommodate territorial changes and improve transportation access, eventually settling at Ban Don Bom by the late 19th century.

In 1893, following the Franco-Siamese conflict, administrative reforms placed Khon Kaen under the Udon Circle. Continued infrastructure developments made Khon Kaen a regional administrative hub, officially designated a province in 1916 under King Rama VI. In the 1960s, Khon Kaen’s status as the economic and administrative center of northeastern Thailand was solidified, with the construction of a new government complex at the former airport site.

Khon Kaen’s evolution from a small strategic outpost to a major northeastern city reflects its adaptability and importance within Thailand. The city is now recognized as an educational and industrial hub, maintaining a central role in Isan’s cultural and economic development.