Lake Waccamaw is a town in

Columbus County Columbus County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina, on its southeastern border. Its county seat is Whiteville. The 2020 census showed a loss of 12.9% of the population from that of 2010. As of the 2020 census, the popula ...

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, United States. The 2010 census population was 1,480. Originally home to Native Americans, Europeans later colonized Lake Waccamaw in the 18th century. The Europeans built naval stores and the discovery of turpentine oil led to the Wilmington-Manchester railroad track being created. A shingle company was later converted to a lumber company. In 1910, a group of townspeople created the Waccamaw Club. The town surrounds

Lake Waccamaw Lake Waccamaw is a fresh water lake located in Columbus County in North Carolina. It is the largest of the natural Carolina Bay lakes. Although bay trees (''Magnolia virginiana L.'', ''Gordonia lasianthus Ellis'', and ''Persea'') are present w ...

, which features 9,000 acres of diverse wildlife and is a major source of revenue for the town. The lake is bustling with many endemic species of fish, birds, mollusks, and other animals. In 2018, a forty-year ban on hunting alligators was lifted. The town of Lake Waccamaw provides many recreational activities, such as birdwatching and hiking, due to the large population of wildlife and mild terrain. The majority of the town's population attend East Columbus High School, making ECHS football games and fundraisers common town traditions.

History

The town of Lake Waccamaw was first inhabited by Native Americans before the Europeans came and colonized the area. Charles the Second of England granted proprietors individual grants to allow them to sail to the new world to bring him back riches and news. By the mid-eighteenth century, Lake Waccamaw had a good number of settlers. People like John Powell, from Virginia, brought cattle. John Powell's son Absalom Powell started to buy land near Lake Waccamaw. John Powell's other son Issac Powell was made the first major of the Brandon, County Durham militia in 1804 and justice of peace in 1806. Issac owned most of Lake Waccamaw. Lake Waccamaw and nearby city Flemington grew slowly with the help of the Wilmington-Manchester railroad being built. The railroad brought the rural town access to the world. The addition of the railroad also made the settlement grow when the actual freshwater lake was then discovered. However, this growth increased rapidly when the naval stores and turpentine business began to grow. On January 26, 1869, Charles Oscar Beers started his shingle industry along the southern shore of Lake Waccamaw. Another company also started south of the lake by Henry Bascom Short after Beers started his company. These two companies came together and formed a new company named Short and Beers, which brought more business to the town and created more jobs. Over time, the company went from producing shingles to becoming the North Carolina Lumber Company. Around 1910, a local group formed the Waccamaw Club. The club served as a gathering place for hunting parties and house parties. The club later disbanded, and the building then became the Waccamaw Hotel. The Lake Waccamaw Depot was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1983. The Waccamaw Dam was built in 1926 by the state to prevent the lake from shrinking in dry weather. In 2018, a new bridge that goes over the Waccamaw Dam was finally finished and open for locals.

Government

Lake Waccamaw is governed by a town council which consists of a mayor and a town board. The mayor of Lake Waccamaw, Matt Wilson is supported by the town board, consisting of commissioners Rosemary Dorsey, Frank Carroll, Theresa Mckeithan, and Terry Littrell. Lake Waccamaw has a government staff led by Town Manager Damon Kempski that aids the town with development, construction, economics, and local law. Lake Waccamaw has its own

police department The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and ...

, managed by Chief of Police Scott Hyatt, and fire department, led by fire chief Brandy Nance. Public Works is under the supervision of Robert Bailey

Geography

The town of Lake Waccamaw is located in eastern Columbus County at (34.314998, -78.508708), on the north shore of

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , of which , or 0.16%, is water. Lake Waccamaw is a freshwater lake around and on which is held the annual free fitness event, Take the Lake. Participants may either walk the around the lake, paddle around, bike and walk around, or swim across the lake, all on

Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...

weekend. No winners are announced, as awards are presented for completion only. Organizers began Take the Lake in reaction to the county being ranked as the least healthy of all 100 North Carolina counties.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 1,296 people, 654 households, and 443 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 1,411 people, 529 households, and 356 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 409.8 people per square mile (158.4/km). There were 793 housing units at an average density of 230.3 per square mile (89.0/km). The racial makeup of the town was 80.65%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 15.88%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 2.27% Native American, 0.07%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.57% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 0.57% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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. As of the

of 2017, there were 1,480 people and 1,015 households in Lake Waccamaw, NC. The median price for a housing unit is 252,900. The largest racial group of the town is

at 83.8%. The next largest group is

at 9.2%, followed by Native American at 5.4%. The remaining 1.2% of the population are from

, and 1.0% from two or more races. Mixed

citizens make up 1.6% of the population. Those who identify as female make up 56.9% of the population, whereas males make up 43.1%. Men also have a higher median income than women at $32,969 per year compared to $19,250. The median household income for this area is $50,345, according to

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...

in 2017. A fifth of these people (22.3%) live below the poverty line. According to the

, there were 55,936 people living in

Columbus County, North Carolina Columbus County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina, on its southeastern border. Its county seat is Whiteville. The 2020 census showed a loss of 12.9% of the population from that of 2010. As of the 2020 census, the popul ...

in 2017. There are 22,462 households, and 26,305 housing units in Columbus County. Of these households, 23.1% of the population lives in poverty. As of the 2017 data, 63% of the population identifies as white (alone,) and 30.7 of the population identifies as African American.

Ecology

Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina is home Lake Waccamaw, a

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...

and

wildlife refuge A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

. The majority of Lake Waccamaw's

revenue In accounting, revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods and services related to the primary operations of the business. Commercial revenue may also be referred to as sales or as turnover. Some companies receive reven ...

comes from

tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

and tours around the park, as well as research projects conducted on the Lake's

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

species. A wide range of animal species resides in the town of Lake Waccamaw, due to the town being right next to the lake. For having a high pH and

alkalinity Alkalinity (from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is the capacity of water to resist acidification. It should not be confused with basicity, which is an absolute measurement on the pH scale. Alkalinity is the strength of ...

, Lake Waccamaw is one of the few lakes that can harbor endemic species, which are species only native to one graphic region. Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers, Swallow-Tailed Kites, and Black Bears are animal species that take refuge on land in Lake Waccamaw State Park. The Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers population has shrunk a measurable amount due to timber harvesting and the maturing of the pine forest that neighbor the lake. The Swallow-Tailed Kite population is the most dense in the town of Lake Waccamaw than in the entire state of North Carolina. Black bears roam the town area and the forest of Lake Waccamaw. The forest are a perfect environment for them because of the opportunity for den sites, food, and coverage from the weather.

Brown-headed nuthatch The brown-headed nuthatch (''Sitta pusilla'') is a small songbird endemic to pine forests throughout the Southeastern United States. Genetic analyses indicated low differentiation between northern and southern populations in Florida, but the stud ...

es, parula warblers, and

white-eyed vireo The white-eyed vireo (''Vireo griseus'') is a small songbird of the family Vireonidae. Distribution and habitat It breeds in the eastern United States from New England west to northern Missouri and south to Texas and Florida, and also in easte ...

s are also other bird species that inhabit the town and its surroundings. Aquatic life is very diverse in Lake Waccamaw. There are many fish species the Waccamaw Darter, the Waccamaw Killfish, and the Waccamaw Silverside.

Alligator An alligator is a large reptile in the Crocodilia order in the genus ''Alligator'' of the family Alligatoridae. The two extant species are the American alligator (''A. mississippiensis'') and the Chinese alligator (''A. sinensis''). Additiona ...

s are part of the ecosystem of Lake Waccamaw. There was an uplift on a ban on alligator hunting in March 2018. The ban was removed after being enforced for over 40 years. The reason for the ban was that the alligators were getting over hunted, but now the population is back to normal. Bullfrogs,

leopard frog Leopard frog is a generic name used to refer to various species in the true frog genus Lithobates. They all have similar coloration: brown or green with spots that form a leopard pattern. They are distinguished by their distribution and behavior ...

s, and

cricket frog Cricket frogs, genus ''Acris'', are small, North American frogs of the family Hylidae. They occur in northern Mexico ( Coahuila), the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and in southern Ontario, Canada. They are more aquatic than other ...

s roam the damp environments around Lake Waccamaw. The Waccamaw fatmucket and Waccamaw Spike, which are mollusks, is a prominent in the filtration of the water in the lake. The Venus-hair fern, green-fly orchid, seven-angled pipewort, Narrowleaf yellow pond lily, and water arrowhead are native plants of town Lake Waccamaw. These are considered rare. In 2012, residents reported, and researchers at N.C. State University confirmed, that the invasive aquatic weed

hydrilla ''Hydrilla'' (waterthyme) is a genus of aquatic plant, usually treated as containing just one species, ''Hydrilla verticillata'', though some botanists divide it into several species. It is native to the cool and warm waters of the Old World in A ...

had infested of Lake Waccamaw. There are two known endemic snail species, the Waccamaw amnicola and the Waccamaw Siltsnail. The terrain of the town is also very diverse with forested wetlands,

tidal marsh A tidal marsh (also known as a type of "tidal wetland") is a marsh found along rivers, coasts and estuaries which floods and drains by the tidal movement of the adjacent estuary, sea or ocean. Tidal marshes are commonly zoned into lower marshes ( ...

es, and

longleaf pine The longleaf pine (''Pinus palustris'') is a pine species native to the Southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from East Texas to southern Virginia, extending into northern and central Florida. In this area it is also known as ...

forests. The tidal marshes filter pollution of the water and in the 18th and 19th, was used for rice farming. The longleaf pine forest are home to the birds, bears, deer, and other animals the reside in the area of Lake Waccamaw.

Prescribed burning A controlled or prescribed burn, also known as hazard reduction burning, backfire, swailing, or a burn-off, is a fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. A control ...

is used to keep the growth of the forest under control. Forested wetlands are critical in reducing the risk of flooding and shelter for all organisms. They provide opportunities for feeding on these organisms when the water rises.

Lake Waccamaw

is home to North Carolina's largest natural freshwater lake, and the largest of the North Carolina Bay Lakes at 8,938 acres. Lake Waccamaw is called a Bay Lake not because it is a body of water, but because of the abundance of Sweet Bay, and Red Bay trees growing beside the shore. The lake is roughly 5.2 miles by 3.5 miles in length and is estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000 years old. Numerous other bodies of water feed into Lake Waccamaw including the Waccamaw River, and four smaller creeks, the largest of which is called Big Creek. Lake Waccamaw also has an unusually high PH level is due to an abundance of calcareous formations that underline the bottom of the lake, and have dissolved into Lake Waccamaw over time. These formations have caused steep bluffs on the north shore of the lake where the calcareous mixture is deposited. These calcareous formations do underlie most North Carolinian Lakes, but Lake Waccamaw is the only Bay Lake with these formations. Lake Waccamaw has many recreation activities available as visitors can camp, fish, hunt, go boating, or picnic. With seven miles of trails to explore, and fifty-two species of game and non-game fish, there is plenty for visitors to do and experience. One of the most popular places to visit and fish at is the Bohemian Girl Scenic Bridge, named in honor of John A McNeil, a celebrated citizen. The bridge completes a 14-mile path around the lake, and has numerous fishing platforms as well as a panoramic view of the lake.

Development of the lake

Many scientists worry about possible contamination of the lake.

's water is within the acceptable, pre-established, heath guidelines and legal limits established by the

Safe Drinking Water Act The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the principal federal law in the United States intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public. Pursuant to the act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set standards for drinking w ...

. However, there is a high level of chloroform present in the Lake, at 4.43 ppb (parts per billion) out of an allowed 14 ppb.

Chloroform Chloroform, or trichloromethane, is an organic compound with chemical formula, formula Carbon, CHydrogen, HChlorine, Cl3 and a common organic solvent. It is a colorless, strong-smelling, dense liquid produced on a large scale as a precursor to ...

is a

Trihalomethane In chemistry, trihalomethanes (THMs) are chemical compounds in which three of the four hydrogen atoms of methane () are replaced by halogen atoms. Many trihalomethanes find uses in industry as solvents or refrigerants. THMs are also environment ...

that is often used as a

fumigant Fumigation is a method of pest control or the removal of harmful micro-organisms by completely filling an area with gaseous pesticides—or fumigants—to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is used to control pests in buildings ( ...

for wheat products, a

coolant A coolant is a substance, typically liquid, that is used to reduce or regulate the temperature of a system. An ideal coolant has high thermal capacity, low viscosity, is low-cost, non-toxic, chemically inert and neither causes nor promotes corrosio ...

, and as a cleaning spot remover. Chloroform is a naturally occurring substance, but its presence in water in almost always man-made. The lake itself is not man made, as it is a part of the Bladen Lake group, a group of lakes created by receding ocean waters.

Education

East Columbus High School is located at 32 Gator lane, Lake Waccamaw. Founded in 1992, East Columbus High School receives students from the Lake Waccamaw, Riegelwood, Delco, and Hallsboro residential areas. It incorporates students from the Acme-Delco and Hallsboro Middle Schools. The school has a total of 449 students enrolled with a 14-1 student to teacher ratio. East Columbus high has a graduation rate of 85 percent. The school's mascot is the Gator. Professional basketball player

Boubacar Aw Boubacar Richard Aw (born June 22, 1975) is a Senegalese former professional basketball player. After growing up in Thiès, Aw moved to the United States in 1993 and he played high school basketball in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina; he then went o ...

attended his senior year of high school at East Columbus. Lake Waccamaw has a charter school called Flemington Academy. Flemington Academy is partnered with the Boy and Girls Homes of North Carolina. Flemington Academy has a total of 83 students enrolled with a 6:11 student to teacher ratio. It serves grades from 6–12 with a graduation rate of 79 percent. The Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina is the only private boarding school in the county. The Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina is a private boarding school that strives to provide a good education for students age of 6–21 years old who have experienced trauma or been victims of violence. Lake Waccamaw doesn't have any elementary schools, but Columbus County does offer elementary schools in the town Hallsboro which is close. The closest college near Lake Waccamaw is called Southeastern Community College which is only 15 miles away from the town.

Waccamaw Siouans

The Waccamaw

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...

or Waccamaw Siouan are one of eight Indian tribes recognized by the North Carolinian government. The Waccamaw Siouan Indians are not affiliated with the Waccamaw People of North Carolina or the Waccamaw Siouan of Farmers Union South Carolina. The Lake Waccamaw Indians are known as the "People of the Falling Star" because of the humongous meteorite that crashed to earth years ago and created the crater that is now Lake Waccamaw. The Waccamaw Siouan live on the edge of the Green Swamp in a closed, protected swampland refuge. The Waccamaw Indians were originally called the Waccon and then the Waccammassus Indians, but their name was changed to Waccamaw by white settlers as it was more convenient and easy for English settlers to pronounce.

Bibliography

* * * * "Chloroform." Wisconsin Department of Health Services
//www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/chemical/chloroform.htm
23 Mar. 2019 * Environmental Working Group; "Town of Lake Waccamaw Water System." ''NYTimes.com. 6 May 2012.

21 Mar. 2019 *Gant, Michelle. “North Carolina Town to Approve Alligator Hunting over 40 Years after It Was Banned.” ''Fox News'', FOX News Network, 27 Apr. 2017, www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/north-carolina-town-to-approve-alligator-hunting-over-40-years-after-it-was-banned. * *“How Does Flemington Academy Rank Among America's Best High Schools?” ''U.S. News & World Report'', U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/north-carolina/districts/flemington-academy/flemington-academy-144826. Accessed 11 April 2019. *“How Does East Columbus High Rank Among America's Best High Schools?” ''U.S. News & World Report'', U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/north-carolina/districts/columbus-county-schools/east-columbus-high-14364. Accessed 11 April 2019. * * Lake Waccamaw State Park. "Ecology." ''Ncparks.gov''. North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2019. //www.ncparks.gov/lake-waccamaw-state-park/ecology. *“Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum.” ''Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum - Gallery'', www.lakewaccamawdepotmuseum.com/gallery.htm. Accessed 3 April 2019. * *North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. “Waccamaw Fatmucket.” ''Waccamaw Fatmucket'', 2019, www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mollusks/Waccamaw-Fatmucket#3331996-description. *Parkins, Grant. “Lake Waccamaw: A North Carolina Treasure.” ''Lake Waccamaw: A North Carolina Treasure , '', 12 Dec. 2017, lakelevel.web.unc.edu/lake-waccamaw-a-north-carolina-treasure/. Accessed 16 March 2019. *Peek, Charlie. “Treatment of Lake Waccamaw for Hydrilla Infestation Set to Begin.” ''Treatment of Lake Waccamaw for Hydrilla Infestation Set to Begin , NC State Parks'', 29 May 2013, www.ncparks.gov/newsroom/press-releases/treatment-of-lake-waccamaw-hydrilla-infestation-set-begin. *Powell, Bobby, and Susan Prescott. “History.” ''Town of Lake Waccamaw'', lakewaccamaw.com/?page_id=37. Accessed 16 March 2019. *Powell, William. “Carolina Bays.” ''NCpedia'', 2006, www.ncpedia.org/carolina-bays. Accessed 17 March 2019. *The Gale Group Inc. “Endemic Species.” ''Environmental Encyclopedia'', Encyclopedia.com, 2019, www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/endemic-species. *“The Waccamaw River - The River That Comes and Goes.” ''Carolina Rivers..Education, Preservation through Exploration'', www.carolinarivers.com/pages/waccamaw.htm. Accessed 15 March 2019. *“Town Council.” ''Town of Lake Waccamaw'', lakewaccamawnc.gov/?page_id=36. Accessed 11 April 2019 *Tribe, Waccamaw Siouan. " Waccamaw Siouan Indians." ''Waccamaw Siouan Tribe.'' Accessed 12 April 2019 *U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Wildlife and Habitat - Waccamaw - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” ''Waccamaw'', 10 Dec. 2015, www.fws.gov/refuge/waccamaw/wildlife_and_habitat.html.

References

External links

Town of Lake Waccamaw official website
*

*https://www.ncparks.gov/lake-waccamaw-state-park {{authority control Towns in Columbus County, North Carolina Towns in North Carolina