The first city of the area was established in 1783 when Rajakruluang settled there with 330 people. King Rama I made Rajakruluang the first governor of the area when establishing tighter connections with the Isan area. The main city was moved six times until in 1879 it reached its modern location at Nuang Kaw. Khon Kaen was ever under governing power of Udon county in the early period of Rattanakosin (B.C. 2450). Currently, it becomes the administrative centre for a group of some north eastern provinces in middle region.