Santa Claus (Indiana)

Santa Claus — America's Christmas home town — is a village of 2,600 people (2020) in Southwestern Indiana. The town is a destination for Christmas-related activities.

Understand
The town was once named Santa Fee. The name was changed in 1856 as it sounded too similar to Santa Fe, Indiana, a settlement to the north.

Christmas Boulevard is the main street; other roads bear the names of the Three Wise Men, Chestnut by the Fire and Santa's reindeer. Letters to Santa Claus have been answered locally since 1914, with 20,000 personal replies sent annually by a group of 200 volunteers, many of whom come from afar.

Among the local landmarks are the old church, the post office and a 10-foot statue of Santa Claus. Kringle Place, the main shopping area in Santa Claus, is a mix of Christmas-themed shops and everyday chain stores. There are models of Santa everywhere. A gated residential community, Christmas Lake Village, was established in the 1960s.

The main events take place on the first three weekends in December. There's a candy shop, a toy store and Christmas cards which may be mailed with the local postmark.

All times listed are in the Central time zone (GMT-6).


 * Santa Claus tourism website

Get in
Santa Claus is south of Ferdinand and  east of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and Lincoln State Park on Route 162.

Get around
There is no local public transportation; the nearest taxi is 20-30 miles distant.

Go next

 * The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and state park are west.
 * Ferdinand is the closest town.