Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina

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Lake Waccamaw is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,411 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Location of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina

Lake Waccamaw is located at 34°18′54″N, 78°30′31″W (34.314998, -78.508708)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.9 km² (3.5 mi²). 8.9 km² (3.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.29% is water.

Lake Waccamaw is a unique fresh water lake located in Columbus County in North Carolina. The lake is oval in shape and measures roughly 5 miles by 7 miles with an average depth of 7.5 feet. It is the largest of the natural Carolina Bay Lakes with a total surface area of 8,936 acres (36 km²). The Lake is estimated to be 250,000 years old. The lake is fed mainly by Big Creek and the surrounding swamp lands. The organic matter from the decaying vegetation of the swamps makes the water dark. The Lake is full of life. It even contains some species, such as the Waccamaw Silverside, that are native only to Lake Waccamaw.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,411 people, 529 households, and 356 families residing in the town. The population density was 158.4/km² (409.8/mi²). There were 793 housing units at an average density of 89.0/km² (230.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.65% White, 15.88% African American, 2.27% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.57% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 529 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,692, and the median income for a family was $57,500. Males had a median income of $36,597 versus $22,054 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,502. About 6.8% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 51.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Some believe Lake Waccamaw belongs to the Bladen Lake group, which may have been formed by meteorites. Dredges have brought up old charred tree stumps, and they support a theory that the lake is the basin left by a prehistoric peat fire. It is the largest natural Lake between Maine and Florida. Lake Waccamaw has a dam that serves to keep the Lake from shrinking in dry weather. The Waccamaw dam was built in 1926 by the state.

Lake Waccamaw has four feeders, called First Little, Second Little and Third Little Creeks and then Big Creek. Underground springs swell the creeks.

Before the arrival of European settlers to Lake Waccamaw, it was inhabited by Native American Indians. A place still called Indian Mounds is on the east shore and, on the site of one mound, it is said nothing will grow.

Charles the Second originally granted this land to one of the Lord Proprietors who made individual grants to those willing to settle in this part of the new world. These large grants were divided among heirs and new settlers. By the mid - 1700's, few of the early settlers or their descendants were left around the lake area. They were replaced by people such as John Powell, who brought cattle from Virginia to settle his grant of land.

John Powell's son, Absalom after the Revolution, started buying large areas of land. A N.C. Historical Marker was placed near his grave on August 22, 1933 at Lake Waccamaw. John Powell's son, Issac, of Lake Waccamaw was appointed first major for Bladen County militia in 1804 and a Justice of the Peace in 1806. He was the largest landowner of his day in Columbus County, owning over 10,000 acres (40 km²) - most of his land in the area of Lake Waccamaw.

East Columbus High School was founded in Lake Waccamaw in 1992 receiving students from the Lake Waccamaw, Riegelwood, Delco, and Hallsboro resitdential areas. It incorporates students from the Acme-Delco and Hallsboro Middle Schools.