Wakefield Corner, popular with tourists, is a picturesque hilltop village of antique buildings.

Initially a native settlement, Wakefield was attacked by John Lovewell during Father Rale's War.

The New Hampshire town developed as an important sledge and stage stop between the seacoast and the White Mountains.

Lumber became a chief product, and by 1859 there were five sawmills, five gristmills, and ten shingle, clapboard and planing mills.

The lake's outlet is the headwaters of the Salmon Falls River, forming the New Hampshire-Maine boundary, and flowing south into Horn Pond.

Lovell Lake, in the south-central part of the town, flows out to the west via the Branch River through Sanbornville.

Via the Salmon Falls, the southern half of Wakefield is part of the Piscataqua River watershed, reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Portsmouth.

Of Wakefield's lakes, Province, Balch, Great East, and Horn Pond span the Maine border.

The highest point in Wakefield is the summit of Long Mountain, at 1,110 feet (340 m) above sea level, along the town's western border.

North Wakefield lies along Route 16 on the west side of Pine River Pond near the town line with Ossipee.