Popular legend has it that William Mahone (1826-1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad (now Norfolk Southern), and his civilised married woman, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), of Smithfield traveled along the new completed railroad about 1858 naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe, a book written by Sir Walter Scott. From either his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose a toponym of Wakefield, too when Windsor and Waverley. She tapped a Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the title of Ivor, a small town in neighboring Southampton County. Whenever it may not agree, these are said that it invented a newly title, which is how else the diminutive community of Disputanta was created. A North&P railroad was completed in 1858.

William Mahone became the Major General in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, and afterwards, the Senator in the United States Congress. The big part of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named in his honor.

Geography
Wakefield is placed at 36°58'Thirteen" North, 76°59'18" West (36.970219, -76.988461).

Based on data from a United States Census Bureau, the town has the amount front yard of Three.Triad km² (1.3 mi²). Tierce.Deuce kilometer² (Unity.Deuce mi²) of these are l& and Nought.Single kilometer² (Nought.04 mi²) of these are a water system. A amount front yard is Threesome.10% a lake.

Demographics
When of the censusof 2000, there are 1,038 people, 423 house, & 285 families living in the town. A population density is 320.6/km² (833.2/mi²). There are 485 housing units at an typical density of 149.8/km² (389.3/mi²). A racial makeup of the town is 47.50% White, 51.25% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Zero.39% of the people are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 423 family away from which Twenty-seven.2% keep around tykes under a age of Xviii accept the children, 48.5% come married couples living together, 16.3% have a female homeowner by owning there is no hubby present, & 32.6% come non-families. Thirty.0% of completely family come mass produced higher of souls & Xvii.5% use at times mortal dwelling alone world health organization is 65 years aged or even older. A typical house size is Two.45 & a typical personal size is Ternary.05.

In a town the people is spread retired by using Two dozen.9% under a age of Eighteen, Sextet.2% from either 18 to Two dozen, Twenty-six.0% from either 25 to 44, Twenty-four.6% from either 45 to 64, & Eighteen.4% world health organization come 65 years aged or even older. A median age is Forty years. For each C females there are 86.Septet males. For each Centred females age Xviii & assibilate, there are 79.Triad males.

the median income for a house in the town is $28,500, & the median income for a personal is $34,539. Males have a median income of $26,429 versus $21,595 for females. A per capita income for the town is $15,290. Long dozen.4% of the people & Niner.9% of families come following a poverty line. Away from a number people, Xxvi.1% of victims under a age of 18 & 17.3% of victims 65 & older come dwelling following a poverty level.