The town of North Pole in Alaska is about 14 miles southeast of Fairbanks and covers an area approximately 4.1 square miles. According to the 2008 Census Bureau estimates, the population of this town is just under 2,000. The town has a strong military tie to the 354th Fighter Wing, a host unit of the Eielson Air Force Base. It has also served as an alternate landing site for U.S. space shuttles.
The subarctic climate in North Pole has long, cold winters and short, cool summers, with most rainfall occurring in the summer. Summer months have long days of sunlight with moderate rainfall and high temperatures that average 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter low temperatures average around minus-40 degrees. Residents celebrate summer solstice on June 21, the longest day of the year, with 21 hours and 49 minutes of sun. The shortest day of the year is only 3 hours and 42 minutes of sunlight on December 21.
The first settler to the area now encompassing the town of North Pole was Bon V. Davis in 1944. He later sold his homestead to a development company who subdivided it and sold it to new residents. The company named the town North Pole in hopes of attracting toy manufacturers taking advantage of the Santa Claus and Christmas themes. The town was incorporated as a Home Rule city in January 1953.
North Pole takes full advantage of the Christmas theme with street names such as Santa Claus Lane, St. Nicholas Drive, Snowman Lane, and Kris Kringle Drive. Firetrucks and ambulances are all red while the police cars are green and red. Visitors to North Pole visit attractions such as the Santa Claus House gift shop which hosts the world's largest fiberglass statue of Santa Claus outside the continental U.S. or they may see Dasher and Blitzen, two members of Santa's reindeer team, at their corral at Santaland RV Park.
Other than summer recreational activities such as camping and picnicking at Chena Lake, residents and visitors enjoy skiing and sledding. A popular winter attraction is Christmas on Ice. This annual event, lasting through December into early January, features musical performances, ice carving contests and crowning of the North Pole king and queen. The Summer Festival is another annual event held each year around July 4. It features food vendors, music programs, children's activities and a parade.
