Seneca

Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, positioned near the Blue Ridge Mountain section of the Appalachians. The downtown area holds small shops and restaurants, while residential neighborhoods and green spaces fan out toward the surrounding hills.

The Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway crossed an existing rail line here in 1873, and the town formed the following year as a railroad junction. This early role as a transport hub shaped the development of the community over the following decades.

The name comes from a Seneca tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy that once lived in the region, and this heritage remains present in the way locals refer to the area today. Visitors encounter this legacy through place names and street signs that recall this early connection.

The downtown area is easy to walk around, as shops and restaurants sit close together and sidewalks line most streets. Parking along the main road makes it simple to reach most facilities and public buildings.

Three large dam projects created Lakes Hartwell, Keowee, and Jocassee, which supply water to the town and offer places for swimming and boating. These man-made lakes changed the landscape of the region and shaped the way people spend time outdoors today.

Location: Oconee County

Elevation above the sea: 294 m

Website: http://seneca.sc.us

GPS coordinates: 34.68417,-82.95583

Latest update: December 13, 2025 20:00