North Pole celebrates 50 years in style. (Alaska This Month).

The city of North Pole has seen the passing of another Christmas, with its bags of children's mail and photo sessions with Kris Kringle, but this month the celebration will not slow with the ebb of the holiday season. The famous home of Santa Claus is gearing up for a year of plans to celebrate the city's 50th anniversary of its incorporation.

On Jan. 16, at 6 p.m., there will be fireworks and a birthday cake for visitors and residents at the shopping mall to honor the city's half century of existence. Folkdore and even the city's appearance may suggest life in North Pole is anything but ordinary, but Mayor Jeff Jacobson said daily activities are not too different from anywhere else.

"We're a typical Alaska community," Jacobson said. "I think we're a real family oriented community, generous, helpful. We're a small community."

The area of North Pole was first homesteaded in 1944. Later, the Dahl and Gaske Development Co. bought the Davis homestead, subdivided the land and named it North Pole. The name was selected in an entrepreneurial scheme to attract the toy industry to capitalize on the "Made in North Pole" marketing. Although the efforts to attract big toy makers failed, the city continued to grow on its own.

As the city grew, streets were named for seasonal reasons, such as Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, Blitzen and Donnor. Streetlights have been painted and decorated in Yuletide fashion and some businesses keep to the theme. Reindeer and Santa Claus are still available year-round for visits and photographs. Jacobson said plans are always in the works to continue fashioning the city.

"Eventually we're hoping to be a theme city," he said. "All the storefronts would follow the theme."

In spite of these plans, North Pole remains an Alaska city with all the work that brings. There is a police department and a fire department and plenty of work for the government. At its heart, it is a small community.

"Every day that school is in session, our city population triples," Jacobson said.

North Pole also has developed its presence internationally. In 1988, North Pole and Itadori, Japan, established a Sister City relationship to further cultural, social and economic awareness between the two countries. Since 1988, Itadori has sent a delegation to North Pole, consisting of its entire graduating class from the junior high (20-30 students) and seven to 10 adults each year. The delegation comes to Alaska each year in August. The delegation from North Pole travels to Itadori each spring. There have been 10 groups that have traveled to Japan. The groups have each ranged from five to 40 people. Those who have made the journey say they are awed by the beauty of Itadori, located in the mountains and referred to as "Switzerland Village."

For the 50th anniversary, the city will have calendars made up and is scheduled to have a book about North Pole available later in the year. For more information about the city and the special events on its calendar, visit the North Pole's Web site at www.northpolealaska.com or call (907) 488 2281.