Editing Santa Claus, Indiana

{{short description|Town in Spencer County, Indiana, United States}}
{{Other uses|Santa Claus (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Santa Claus, Indiana
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = America's Christmas Hometown
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Santa claus, in.JPG
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Town Hall in Santa Claus
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = File:Spencer County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Santa Claus Highlighted 1868022.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Santa Claus in Spencer County, Indiana.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Indiana]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Carter Township, Spencer County, Indiana|Carter]], [[Clay Township, Spencer County, Indiana|Clay]], [[Harrison Township, Spencer County, Indiana|Harrison]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 1854

<!-- Area -->
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_land_km2            = 16.67
|area_water_km2           = 1.09
|area_total_km2           = 17.76
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.86
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.44
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.42

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2586
|population_density_km2   = 155.09
|population_density_sq_mi = 401.68
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 449
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|07|00|N|86|55|46|W|region:US-IN|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 47579
|area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code =               [[Area codes 812 and 930|812 & 930]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 18-68022<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2396905<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396905}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.townofsantaclaus.com/ Town of Santa Claus]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''Santa Claus''' is a town in [[Spencer County, Indiana]], United States, in the [[Southwestern Indiana|southwestern part]] of the state. The population was 2,586 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. It is home to numerous [[Christmas]] themed attractions, including [[Holiday World & Splashin' Safari]] and [[Santa's Candy Castle]].<ref name=gnis/>

The town was established in 1854 and known as Santa Fe ({{IPAc-en|f|iː}}), but was unable to establish a post office as there was already another [[Santa Fe, Miami County, Indiana|Santa Fe, Indiana]]. Several town meetings were held, during which the name ''Santa Claus'' was selected. The town has the world's only post office to bear the name of the [[Santa Claus|eponymous Christmas figure]]. Because of this popular name, the post office 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.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXQgqekmP2AC&q=rising+sun+indiana&pg=PA22 | title=Indiana | publisher=Globe Pequot | date=March 1, 2001 | access-date=October 16, 2013 | author=Wissing, Douglas | page=22 | isbn=9781560449065 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The post office also creates an annual [[Christmas]] hand-cancellation pictorial postmark for use during December, which also attracts mail from all over the world.

Santa Claus has grown substantially since the [[1990 United States census|1990 census]], which recorded 927 residents. A majority of Santa Claus residents live within the gated community of Christmas Lake Village, which was developed in the late 1960s. It consists of {{convert|2500|acre|km2}} developed around three lakes: Christmas Lake, Lake Holly, and Lake Noel. The street names in Christmas Lake Village are all named after the Christmas season. Many residents also live in Holiday Village, a subdivision on the north side of town.

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2011}}
The community of Santa Claus was established in 1849. The story of how it received the name of Santa Claus has roots both in fact and legend. In January 1856, the town applied for a post office to be installed. They submitted their application under the name of Santa Fe. The application was returned to them with the message, "Choose some name other than Santa Fe." The process of settling upon the name of Santa Claus has been lost to legend. There are many different versions of the story and there were other choices as well that the town did not settle upon. What is known is that in 1856, the name of Santa Claus was accepted by the Post Office Department.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Perry | title=Spencer County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=October 4, 2015}}</ref>

On June 25, 1895, as part of a nationwide standardization for place names (see [[United States Board of Geographic Names]]), the post office name was changed to the one word ''Santaclaus''. The town's unique name went largely unnoticed until the late 1920s, when Postmaster James Martin began promoting the Santa Claus postmark. The name was changed back to ''Santa Claus'' on February 17, 1928. It was then that the Post Office Department decided there would never be another Santa Claus Post Office in the United States, due to the influx of holiday mail and the staffing and logistical problems this caused. The growing volume of holiday mail became so substantial that it caught the attention of [[Robert Ripley]] in 1929, who featured the town's post office in his nationally syndicated ''[[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]]'' [[comic strip|cartoon strip]].

The town's name also inspired [[Vincennes, Indiana]] entrepreneur Milt Harris to create [[Santa's Candy Castle]], the first tourist attraction in Santa Claus, Indiana. Dedicated December 22, 1935 and sponsored by the [[Curtiss Candy Company]], the red-brick Candy Castle is purported to be the first themed attraction in the United States. Another Santa Claus Town attraction, Toy Village, features a series of miniature fairytale buildings sponsored by prominent national toy manufacturers. Santa Claus Town led to the creation of the town's first newspaper, ''The Santa Claus Town News'', and the Santa Claus Chamber of Commerce.

Harris' project caught the attention of a rival entrepreneur, Carl Barrett, the Chicago head of the Illinois Auto Club. Disliking what he called Harris' materialism, Barrett planned his own tourist attraction, Santa Claus Park. On December 25, 1935, Barrett dedicated a {{convert|22|ft|m|adj=on}} tall statue of Santa Claus that was erected on the highest hill in town. The statue was promoted as being solid [[granite]], although it was subsequently revealed to be [[concrete]] when cracks formed years later.

[[File:Santa Clause, IN 1954, with Christmas Seal.jpg|thumb|Since 1936 Santa Claus has been considered the "First Day of Issue" town for the initial release of [[Christmas seals]]  and has played an important role in promoting them, playing an important role in raising funds to fight [[tuberculosis]]<ref>{{cite book |editor-last= Denune |editor-first=John Jr. |title=The Christmas Seal Catalog |volume= |author-link= |publisher=The Christmas Seal and Charity Stamp Society |location= |year=2014 |isbn= |url=https://www.seal-society.org/sites/default/files/pdf/news/166/The%20Christmas%20Seal%20Catalog-1.pdf |quote=The Christmas Seal Catalog is a simplified version of Green’s Catalog of TB Seals of the World, part 1, U.S. National Christmas Seals |page=II |ref=catalog2014}}</ref>]]
Years of lawsuits between Harris and Barrett were costly distractions for the two entrepreneurs. The lawsuits centered around land ownership and went all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court. National news media covered the ongoing story of "Too Many Santas." Over the years, both entrepreneurs' visions became neglected as the development of the town spread west due to land development by the Koch Family.

On August 3, 1946, retired industrialist Louis J. Koch opened [[Holiday World & Splashin' Safari|Santa Claus Land]], which is claimed to be the world's first [[Amusement park|theme park]]. The park's name was changed to Holiday World in 1984. In 1993, it became Holiday World & Splashin' Safari when a water park named Splashin' Safari was added to the park. Still owned and operated by the Koch family, it attracts more than one million visitors annually, and it is home to [[The Voyage (roller coaster)|The Voyage]], which has repeatedly been voted by coaster enthusiasts as the number one [[wooden roller coaster]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/science/wood-takes-a-thrilling-turn-in-roller-coaster-design.html|title=Wood Takes a Thrilling Turn|last=Fountain|first=Henry|date=July 2, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref>

More recently the development of Christmas Lake Village as a gated community has more than doubled the population of Santa Claus. In 2005, a local development company purchased [[Santa's Candy Castle]] and other buildings that comprised Santa Claus Town and announced plans to restore and re-open them to the public, starting with Santa's Candy Castle on July 1, 2006. The 40-ton, 22-foot concrete Santa Claus statue was restored in 2011. And in 2012, a local historic church and the town's original post office were moved to the site next to the large Santa Claus statue.

==Geography==
[[File:View of Lake Rudolph - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Lake Rudolph]]
According to the 2010 census, Santa Claus has a total area of {{convert|6.861|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|6.44|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 93.86%) is land and {{convert|0.421|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 6.14%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1868022
  |title=G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213064847/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1868022
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| width       = auto
| collapsed   = yes
| single line = 
| location    = Santa Claus, IN (coordinates:{{coord|38.1029|N|86.9449|W}},1991-2020 precipitation normals)
| precipitation colour    =  green
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation inch  =3.63
| Feb precipitation inch  =3.41
| Mar precipitation inch  =4.70
| Apr precipitation inch  =5.35
| May precipitation inch  =5.72
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.60
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.90
| Aug precipitation inch  =4.38
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.77
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.36
| Nov precipitation inch  =3.98
| Dec precipitation inch  =4.13
| year precipitation inch =


|source = [[NOAA]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Station: SANTA CLAUS 1.4 SW, IN US US1INSP0002 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=US1INSP0002&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020 |publisher=[[NCEI|National Centers for Environmental Information]] |page=1 |format=PDF}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 63
|1980= 514
|1990= 927
|2000= 2041
|2010= 2481
|2020= 2586
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,481 people, 936 households, and 737 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|385.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,044 housing units at an average density of {{convert|162.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 936 households, of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.3% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the town was 39.8 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,041 people, 732 households, and 620 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|393.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 818 housing units at an average density of {{convert|157.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 99.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.44% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.20% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.15% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 732 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $60,388, and the median income for a family was $61,991. Males had a median income of $44,514 versus $24,050 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $23,957. About 1.0% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
[[File:Santa Claus Indiana 1 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Santa Claus welcome sign]]
The [[Indiana Department of Transportation]] built a new route for [[U.S. Route 231 in Indiana|U.S. Route 231]], which placed that highway within {{convert|3|mi|km|abbr=on}} of Santa Claus. Local officials are touting the new highway as a major tool to draw new economic development.<ref>{{cite news |first= Stuart |last=Cassidy |title=New highway has Santa Claus preparing for expansion |newspaper= Spencer County Journal-Democrat |location= Rockport, Indiana |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/13374A6EF00E5A58 |via=NewsBank |date=2010-11-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.holidayworld.com/holiblog/2001/09/17/holiday-worlds-patriarch-leaves-legacy/ |title=Holiday Worlds patriarch leaves a legacy |work=HoliBlog |date=September 17, 2001 |publisher=[[Holiday World & Splashin' Safari]]}}</ref>

In keeping with the Christmas theme of the town, [[Indiana State Road 162|Indiana 162]], the main highway through town (which connects to the new U.S. 231), is known as Christmas Boulevard.

==In popular culture==
*The town was featured in a [[RadioShack]] national television commercial in 2008.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nunemaker |first1=Jessica |title=Little Indiana: Small Town Destinations |date=2016 |publisher=Indiana University Press |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UNNCwAAQBAJ&q=santa+claus+indiana+radio+shack&pg=PA281 |access-date=30 May 2020 |chapter=87: Santa Claus |isbn=9780253020703 |quote=Radio Shack featured Santa Claus in a 2008 commercial}}</ref>
*In December 2010, the town museum was involved in a [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] Christmas project called Santa's Forgotten Letters.<ref>[http://www.holidayworld.com/node/3532 "The Claus that refreshes"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504114703/http://www.holidayworld.com/node/3532 |date=May 4, 2011 }}, ''Holiday World'', 2010.</ref>
* In December 2011, the town was named one of the World's Top Christmas Destinations by ''Forbes'' magazine.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngiuffo/2011/12/05/the-worlds-top-christmas-destinations/ "The World's Top Christmas Destinations"], ''[[Forbes]]'', December 5, 2011.</ref>
* The town was featured in the 2017 [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime TV]] Christmas movie ''[[Snowed-Inn Christmas]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7421814/ "Snowed-Inn Christmas"], ''[[IMDb]]'', November 27, 2019.</ref><ref name="wkdq">{{cite web |url=https://wkdq.com/santa-claus-indiana-featured-in-new-lifetime-movie/ |title=Santa Claus Indiana Featured In New Lifetime Movie |last=Sams |first=Travis |date=December 19, 2017 |work=wkdq.com |publisher=Townsquare Media: WKDQ-FM |access-date=November 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126040128/http://wkdq.com/santa-claus-indiana-featured-in-new-lifetime-movie/ |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The town was featured on Christmas Day 2020 as part of [[HGTV]]'s "Holiday 2020" Lineup<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hgtv.com/shows/find-good-cheer-in-abundance-in-hgtv-2020-holiday-lineup|title = Find Good Cheer in Abundance in HGTV's 2020 Holiday Lineup}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Jay Cutler]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] [[quarterback]] for [[Denver Broncos]], [[Chicago Bears]], and [[Miami Dolphins]]<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CutlJa00.htm Jay Cutler Stats]. ''Pro-Football-Reference''. Retrieved June 11, 2022.</ref>
*[[Arad McCutchan]], former college basketball coach for the [[University of Evansville]]<ref>[https://www.coachesdatabase.com/arad-mccutchan/ Arad McCutchan (Former Head Coach) - Coaches Database]. Retrieved June 11, 2022.</ref>

==See also==
{{div col}}
* [[Christmas Island]], [[Australia]]
* [[Santa Claus, Arizona]]
* [[Santa Claus, Georgia]]
* [[Santa's Workshop (Colorado)]]
* [[North Pole, Alaska]]
* [[North Pole, New York]]
* [[Santa Claus Village]], Finland
* [[Noel, Missouri]]
* [[Christmas, Michigan]]
* [[Christmas, Florida]]
* [[Bronner's Christmas Wonderland]]
* [[Christmas seals|Christmas seals — Santa Claus, IN, is the "official city" for the initial release of Christmas seals in the US]]
{{end div col}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Santa Claus (Indiana)}}
*{{Official website|http://www.townofsantaclaus.com/}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110517060915/http://www.santaclausind.org/ Official website for the Spencer County Visitors Bureau]

{{Christmas}}
{{Spencer County, Indiana}}

[[Category:Santa Claus]]
[[Category:Towns in Spencer County, Indiana]]