North Pole, Alaska (pop. 1600) is one of Alaska’s most unique communities.
North Pole is 14 miles (c22 km) southeast of Fairbanks.
It is best known as the home of Santa Claus’ House.
North Pole was first homesteaded in 1944 by a farmer named Davis but did not
gain much recognition until 1953 when North Pole was incorporated as a town.
An enterprising merchant named Con Miller moved his store from Fairbanks and
began a tradition that is still going on today. Miller had already
developed a reputation for playing Santa Claus to the Native children in the
Alaskan Villages, and so he named his new trading post Santa Claus House.