Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina
Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina | |
|---|---|
Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum | |
| Coordinates: 34°18′50″N 78°30′42″W / 34.31389°N 78.51167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Columbus |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.78 sq mi (7.20 km2) |
| • Land | 2.78 sq mi (7.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,296 |
| • Density | 466.19/sq mi (179.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 28450 |
| Area codes | 910, 472 |
| FIPS code | 37-36640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405979 |
| Website | www |
Lake Waccamaw is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,296 at the 2020 census. 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, 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.