North Pole, Alaska Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

The North Pole, Alaska is a small city located in the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the state of Alaska. It is situated about 12 miles south of Fairbanks and about 2 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The city has an estimated population of over 2,000 people and covers an area of 8.8 square miles.

The North Pole was founded in 1944 as a military post for the United States Army Air Corps and was named after its proximity to the geographic North Pole. In 1953, it became a civilian community and over time has become known as a tourist destination due to its close proximity to Fairbanks and other nearby attractions such as Santa Claus House, which is located just outside the city limits.

The climate in North Pole is classified as Subarctic with cold winters and mild summers. The average temperature in January is -17°F while temperatures can reach up to 60°F (15°C) during the summer months. Snowfall averages around 50 inches per year with an average snow depth of around 16 inches during December through April. The area also experiences periods of extreme cold weather with temperatures dropping below -50°F (-46°C).

North Pole is home to many recreational activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and dog sledding making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts from all over Alaska. It also offers several cultural attractions including the Santa Claus House which features displays about Christmas traditions from around the world and many other seasonal events throughout the year such as Christmas parades and holiday festivals.

The community has several shopping centers including Aurora Village Shopping Center which offers over 40 shops ranging from clothing stores to specialty stores selling toys and gifts year-round. There are also two movie theaters located within walking distance from downtown offering both first-run films as well as classic movies throughout each month.

North Pole provides residents with excellent educational opportunities including two public schools; North Pole High School which serves grades 9-12, and Joy Elementary School which serves kindergarten through eighth grade students. Residents can also find higher education opportunities at nearby University of Alaska Fairbanks or take advantage of online schooling options through various colleges across the country that offer distance learning programs or degrees online specifically designed for Alaskan students living in remote areas such as North Pole.

Overall, North Pole is an ideal place for anyone looking for a unique experience filled with outdoor activities, cultural attractions, shopping centers, educational opportunities and more all within close proximity to Fairbanks.

Population: 1,570. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,778 (+13.2% change)
Males: 825 (52.5%), Females: 745 (47.5%)

Zip code: 99705

Demographics

Median resident age: 28.8 years
Median household income: $44,583
Median house value: $116,300

Population by Race

Races in North Pole:

• White Non-Hispanic (79.4%)
• American Indian (7.2%)
• Black (5.7%)
• Two or more races (5.6%)
• Hispanic (3.8%)
• Filipino (2.1%)
• Other race (1.1%)

Ancestries: German (20.2%), Irish (13.6%), English (9.2%), United States (8.8%), Italian (4.3%), French (4.1%).

Land area: 4.2 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in North Pole

• High school or higher: 89.8%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.4%
• Graduate or professional degree: 6.0%
• Unemployed: 12.1%
• Mean travel time to work: 20.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in North Pole city

• Never married: 31.4%
• Now married: 53.0%
• Separated: 2.0%
• Widowed: 3.2%
• Divorced: 10.3%

5.0% Foreign born (3.0% Asia, 1.1% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +80 (+5.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near North Pole:

• FAIRBANKS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 27 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK)
• VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 247 miles; PALMER, AK)
• VALDEZ COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 261 miles; VALDEZ, AK)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to North Pole:

• WAINWRIGHT AAF (about 19 miles; FAIRBANKS/FT WAINWRIGHT, AK; Abbreviation: FBK)
• EIELSON AFB (about 19 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Abbreviation: EIL)
• FAIRBANKS INTL (about 35 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Abbreviation: FAI)

Other public-use airports nearest to North Pole:

• BRADLEY SKY-RANCH (about 3 miles; NORTH POLE, AK; Abbreviation: 95Z)
• CHENA RIVER (about 34 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Abbreviation: 2Z5)
• TOTATLANIKA RIVER (about 96 miles; TOTATLANIKA RIVER, AK; Abbreviation: 9AK)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to North Pole:

• UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS (about 34 miles; FAIRBANKS, AK; Full-time enrollment: 5,034)
• UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (about 298 miles; ANCHORAGE, AK; Full-time enrollment: 9,453)
• PENINSULA COLLEGE (about 2013 miles; PORT ANGELES, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,374)
• WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 2042 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 11,889)
• WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 2044 miles; BELLINGHAM, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,656)
• SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE (about 2062 miles; MT VERNON, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,420)
• OLYMPIC COLLEGE (about 2078 miles; BREMERTON, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,889)

Schools

Public high school in North Pole:

• NORTH POLE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 899; Location: 601 NPHS BLVD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in North Pole:

• NORTH POLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 122; Location: PO BO 55306; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in North Pole:

• NORTH POLE MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 568; Location: 300 EAST 8TH AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 08)
• NORTH POLE ELEMENTARY (Students: 516; Location: 250 SNOWMAN LANE; Grades: PK – 06)