Town of Santa Claus

Photo: License: Public Domain

The town was established in 1854 and known as Santa Fe, but in 1856, when the town was working to establish a post office, there was already a Santa Fe. Several town meetings were held, during which the name Santa Claus was selected.

Santa Claus is the home to numerous themed attractions including: Santa's Candy Castle, the Santa Claus Museum, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Frosty's Fun Center, Christmas Lake Golf Course, and Santa's Stables. It is also home to Santa's Lodge and Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort.

The town has the world's only post office to bear the name of Santa Claus. It receives thousands of letters to Santa from all over the world each year. A group of volunteers known as Santa's Elves ensures each child receives a reply from Santa Claus; this tradition has been in existence since at least 1914.

Every year, the post office also creates a special Christmas hand-cancellation pictorial postmark for use during December, which also attracts mail from all over the world. The pictorial postmark is chosen each year from submissions from art students at the local high school.