It is the home of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized Native American tribe in the state.

The federal government held a tract of land at Poarch in trust for the Indians until 1924.

[3] In the 1940s the community began to organize politically in its own interest, and from 1950 to 1970 tribal leader Calvin McGhee spearheaded a campaign for recognition of Creek land claims in the southeastern states.

The Poarch Band raised funds largely through an annual Thanksgiving Day Pow Wow.

A "bingo hall" has been wholly owned by the tribal government since 1990, along with some small industrial plants and a restaurant and motel.