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Seneca, South Carolina

Seneca, SC, city hall

Seneca is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Seneca Micropolitan Statistical Area (population 66,215 according to year 2000 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau), an (MSA) which includes all of Oconee County and which is further included in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Combined Statistical Area (population 1,185,534 according to year 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimates).

The Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate for 2004, former United States Senator from North Carolina, John Edwards, was born in Seneca. The city is the current home of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. It was named for the nearby Cherokee town of Isunigu, known to the English as "Seneca Town".

Geography

Seneca is located at 34°41′3″N, 82°57′21″W (34.684145, -82.955778).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18.4 km©÷), of which, 7.1 square miles (18.3 km©÷) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km©÷) of it (0.56%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,652 people, 3,286 households, and 2,096 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,084.6 people per square mile (418.5/km©÷). There were 3,677 housing units at an average density of 521.2/sq mi (201.1/km©÷). The racial makeup of the city was 63.32% White, 33.77% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 3,286 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,643, and the median income for a family was $44,487. Males had a median income of $31,381 versus $21,472 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,498. About 13.0% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

Welcome sign

Seneca was founded as Seneca City and named for a nearby Native American village and the Seneca River. The town was located at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Railroad and the newly built Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railroad. Both lines are now part of the Norfolk Southern Railway. A. W. Thompson and J. J. Norton, who were locating engineers for the Air Line Railroad, purchased the land from Col. Brown of Anderson, South Carolina. A stake marking the center of town was driven into the intersection of the railroad tracks and the current Townville St. The land was divided into lots for one-half mile from thestake. An auction was held on August 14, 1873. The town was given a charter by the state legislature on March 14, 1874. In 1908, the name was changed to Seneca.

Old Cotton Warehouse

Seneca developed as a marketing and shipping point for cotton. During the harvest, wagons bringing cotton would line up for blocks from the railroad station. A passenger terminal, several hotels, and a park were built near the railroad tracks. Recently, this park was named the Norton-Thompson Park in honor of its founders.

The first school was built in 1874. The community was the home of the Seneca Institute - Seneca Junior College, which was an African-American school from 1899 to 1939.

Textile mills came in to the area with the construction of a plant-and-mill village by the Courtenay Manufacturing Company in Newry on the Little River in 1893. W.L. Jordon built another textile plant and mill village east of Seneca. This village has been called Jordania, Londsdale, and Utica as the ownership of the plant changed. The J. P. Stevens Plant, which was later called the Westpoint Stevens Plant, was a large integrated textile mill built on Lake Hartwell. Many other textile mills came to the area. These plants were the main industry for Seneca for the first half of the twentieth century. Nearly all these textile plants have been closed.

Westpoint Stevens Plant, January 2008

With the construction of Lake Hartwell in 1963, Lake Keowee in 1971, and Lake Jocassee in 1974, Seneca and the area saw dramatic changes. The Oconee Nuclear Station was built on Lake Keowee. The recreation provided by the lakes and other attractions such as nearby Clemson University brought many retirees from other parts of the country. Retirement communities have been built in the area.

Historical Districts

In an around Seneca, there are a number of historic buildings and districts that are on the National Register of Historic Places:

• Ram Cat Alley Historic District was listed in 2000. It is a twenty-one building commercial district built in the 1880s to the 1930s. The name of the street came from cats that gathered around a meat market. Many of these buildings have been rejuvenated and now house restaurants, shops, and professional offices. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information, a copy of the nomination form, and a map.

• Newry Historic District was listed in 1982. It is a historic textile mill village near Seneca. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information, a copy of the nomination form, and a map.

Places to visit

Lake Keowee - Constructed by Duke Power Company to generate hydroelectric power and to provide cooling water for the Oconee Nuclear Generating Station, Lake Keowee covers Keowee Town, site of the capital of the Lower Cherokee Nation. Keowee, meaning "Place of the Mulberries," was visited by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto when he came through the area in 1540. 18,500 acres (75 km©÷) of water and a 300 mile (500 km) shoreline make the Lake Keowee area a popular place for boating, fishing, water-skiing, swimming, camping and picnicking.

Local Parks with Camping Facilities

• South Cove County Park
• High Falls County Park
• Devils Fork State Park
• Oconee State Park
• Lake Hartwell State Park
• Chau-Ram County Park

How to get there

U.S. Highway 123 and U.S. Highway 76 run together through Seneca and form the main road through town. Highway 123 continues east to Clemson, SC and further to the largest city in the upstate, Greenville, SC. Highway 76 splits off in Clemson and runs south to the city of Anderson, SC. Interstate 85 is the closest interstate highway and can be reached by driving south on Highway 76 (from Clemson) or state Highway 11 (west of Seneca). The Clemson Area Transit provides free bus rides to Clemson.

Oconee County Regional Airport, which has a 4,400 ft runway, is a nearby general aviation airport east of Seneca. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport near Greer, South Carolina is the nearest airport with commercial service.

Government

• Seneca City Hall is located on North First Street, in the center of the historic (downtown) area of Seneca. North First Street is also HWY 123 Business. The City Hall Complex is also the location of the Seneca Police Dept, Seneca Light and Water, as well as the offices of the Mayor and City Administrator.

• Seneca Fire Department is housed on West South Fourth Street, in a new complex. The Fire House is just across the street from the Shaver Complex that houses the Shaver Civic Center, and the sports fields for the Seneca Recreation Department, as well as a park for smaller children, and a rubberized soft walking track. The City of Seneca also owns and operates a public pool located on North Fairplay Street.

Education

Seneca Area Schools

• Code Elementary
• Ravenel Elementary
• J. N. Kellett Elementary School
• Northside Elementary
• Seneca Middle School
• Seneca Sr. High School
• Oconee Adult ED
• Oconee Alternative School
• Hamilton Career Center
• Oconee Christian Academy (PK-12)
• Trinity Baptist Preschool (PK-K)
• Seneca Baptist Preschool (PK-K)

• Keowee Elementary School -is located in Seneca however the students continue schooling at Walhalla, SC Middle and High.

Higher Education

• Clemson University (6 miles) large, public university--major athletic program
• Southern Wesleyan University (7 miles) four-year Christian college
• Tri-County Tech (8 miles) two-year community college
• Anderson University (South Carolina) (20 miles) four-year private college
• Furman University (30 miles) private liberal-arts university--good athletic program
• Greenville Tech (30 miles) large two-year community college, has residence halls
• Bob Jones University (35 miles) conservative Christian liberal-arts university
• North Greenville University (40 miles) Christian liberal-arts college, very rural campus
• Limestone College (95 miles) private four-year college (adult classes meet locally)

Public libraries are located in Seneca, Westminster, Salem, and the main branch in Walhalla. Local residents also may visit the main campus Library located at Clemson University.

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