Your Guide to Buying a Home in North Pole, AK

Buying a Home in North Pole, Alaska

North Pole is located in Fairbanks North Star County

From the friendly smiles at the local grocery store to the politics at City Hall, North Pole is everything one would expect of a small town.

And though it lies only a scarce 15 minutes from Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway, North Pole has a character all its own.

The city's name was cooked up back in the early 1950s as a gimmick to lure toy manufacturers to the tiny town. And while the toy factories never flocked to the community, North Pole's persona mirrors its holiday name.

The main street is lined with candy cane-shaped light poles and Christmas decorations stay up all year long. Streets bear names like Holiday Road, St. Nicholas Drive and Snowman Lane. Even the city flag and stationery carries a likeness of Santa Claus.

One of the most prominent landmarks in North Pole is the 42-foot-high fiberglass statue of Santa Claus checking his list alongside the Richardson Highway. The figure weighs about 900 pounds and has a 33-foot waist.

The North Pole Farmer's Market offers locally grown produce and crafts beginning on June 18. The market is open from 3 to 7 p.m. every Friday throughout the summer and fall.

North Pole kicks off the Christmas season on the first Sunday in December with the Candle lighting Ceremony. The North Pole Chamber of Commerce presents community service awards during the ceremony, which concludes with Christmas carols and the lighting of the candles.

The Winter Carnival and North Pole Championship Sled Dog Races are held yearly on the first weekend in March. The carnival features local craft booths, food vendors and community groups. The sled dog races draw crowds of sprint mushing enthusiasts.