Visit the North Pole

We all know that the north pole exists.  In fact it has been shifting for some time now.  But the North Pole I want to talk about is the one in Alaska.  When you think of booking your next vacation, instead of some place warm, why not go to the North Pole.

Just outside Fairbanks, Alaska, lies the sleepy little hamlet of North Pole.  It's "where the spirit of Christmas lives year 'round."  Drop on by their website and recieve a warm welcome from their mayor.  This small town of 2200 people is filled with all things Christmas.  What fun would it be to have your mail stamped from the North Pole this holiday season.  You can even visit Santa and his elves in his Santa Claus House. 

This quaint little town has a unique history.  It's a major power hub for the region and has a nearby Military base.  Taken from their website:

In February, 1952, Dahl and Gaske Development Company bought the Davis Subdivision and the balance of the homestead, except for a few parcels.

Dahl and Gaske, who had bought the Davis homestead and subdivided it, thought if the growing settlement there were named North Pole it would attract business. They reasoned that some toy manufacturer might be induces to locate a plant there so his products could be advertised as having been made in North Pole. Also, someone might start a Santa Land which would become a northern version of Disneyland.

They approached Bon Davis to petition the United States District Court to change the name from “Davis”, which had been the official name since 1949, to North Pole. Bon Davis thought that their idea was far-fetched but acceded to their request. U.S. District Judge Harry Pratt held a hearing and issued a decree making North Pole the official name.

When it was proposed that the two subdivisions be incorporated into a city known as North Pole, residents of Highway Park rallied their forces and soundly defeated the measure at an election. They wanted no part of North Pole, incorporated or otherwise.

Those living in North Pole clung to the idea of incorporation. Another election was held after the proposed boundaries were reduced so that only the original Davis homestead and part of the one belonging to James Ford were included. Incorporation carried at that election and North Pole became a first-class city on January 15, 1953.