Wakulla is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of, all of it land. The Wakulla community is generally considered to be located between the roads of Rev. Bill and Doc Henderson, and to extend to Mt. Zion and Beaver Dam Roads, with its center being at Oxendine Elementary School and Cherokee Chapel Holiness Methodist Church.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 150 people living in the CDP. The population density was 177.18 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was:
The location which is now Wakulla was known to have existed by name before the 1900s, but the origins of its establishment are unknown. Though some believe it started as a White community, it is now generally seen as a Native American community. Wakulla has yet to be recognized by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina as an official Native American township. There is only one other location in the United States with the name Wakulla: Wakulla County, Florida, which has been in existence since March 11, 1843, making it the older of the two.
Oxendine family
Luther and Susan L. Oxendine were the first Native American family to own land in Wakulla. They donated this land, partially to help establish Oxendine Elementary School and Cherokee Chapel Holiness Methodist Church.
Oxendine School
The school was built on land donated by the Oxendines in 1910. It burned down twice and was rebuilt twice. The school is still standing and functions to this day.
Cherokee Chapel Holiness Methodist Church
The church started as a brush arbor in 1914 and was built on land donated by Luther and Susan L. Oxendine in 1915. It was originally called Wakulla Mission. It celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2014, making it one of the oldest Native American-founded churches in existence. Cherokee Chapel Holiness Methodist Church is a part of the Lumber River Holiness Methodist Church Conference, sometimes referred to as "Lumbee" River Holiness Methodist Church Conference, the oldest and to date the only Native American-founded church conference.
Name meaning
The mean of the name "Wakulla" is unknown, though many believe it refers to Wakulla County, Florida. It may be named for the Timucuan Indian word for "spring of water" or "mysterious water."
