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Seneca, Kansas
Post Office in Seneca (2021)
Post Office in Seneca (2021)
Location within Nemaha County and Kansas
Location within Nemaha County and Kansas
KDOT map of Nemaha County (legend)
Country United States
State Kansas
County Nemaha
Founded 1857
Incorporated 1870
Named for Seneca County, Ohio
Area
 • Total 1.67 sq mi (4.32 km2)
 • Land 1.67 sq mi (4.32 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,152 ft (351 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,139
 • Density 1,281/sq mi (495.1/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
66538
Area code 785
FIPS code 20-63950
GNIS ID 485651

Seneca is a city in and the county seat of Nemaha County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,139.

History

Seneca was founded in 1857. It was named after Seneca County, Ohio. The first post office in Seneca was established in November 1858. Seneca grew up along the wagon route from St. Joseph, Missouri to Oregon and California. British explorer Richard Francis Burton en route to California in 1860 passed through town and noted: "... Seneca, a city consisting of a few shanties ..." Seneca was a station on the Pony Express of the early 1860s. The station was located in the Smith Hotel, at the present-day location of Fourth and Main Streets. Seneca was incorporated as a city in 1870.

Seneca was home to minor league baseball. The Seneca team played the 1910 season as members of the Class D level Eastern Kansas League, finishing in 2nd place. The team played home games at City Park.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.63 square miles (4.22 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 1,203
1890 2,032 68.9%
1900 1,846 −9.2%
1910 1,806 −2.2%
1920 1,885 4.4%
1930 1,864 −1.1%
1940 2,015 8.1%
1950 1,911 −5.2%
1960 2,072 8.4%
1970 2,182 5.3%
1980 2,389 9.5%
1990 2,027 −15.2%
2000 2,122 4.7%
2010 1,991 −6.2%
2020 2,139 7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
Seneca, Kansas jail and sheriff residence from NW 1
Nemaha County Historical Society (previously a Jail and Sheriff residence) (2015)
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Seneca, Kansas (1916)
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (1916)

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,991 people, 908 households, and 509 families living in the city. The population density was 1,221.5 inhabitants per square mile (471.6/km2). There were 982 housing units at an average density of 602.5 per square mile (232.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 908 households, of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.9% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was 49.2 years. 20.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 28.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

Education

The community is served by Nemaha Central USD 115 public school district.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Seneca (Kansas) para niños

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