1942 · Seneca, Oregon. Sheepskins · Library of Congress
Seneca’s story
56 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1970Seneca is settled
- 1942Seneca, Oregon. Sheepskins
SenecaOR
A town of 109, settled in 1970. Public schools that outperform most of Oregon.
Population
109
residents
Median home value
$156K
Census ACS
Household income
$40K
median
Median age
67.8
years
Jobs based here
15
A commuter town
What makes Seneca stand out
The thing Seneca does most differently from other towns.
Small town
109 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Seneca’s report card
Now in Seneca
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Seneca? Is a B+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Seneca’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Seneca. Another town gets a different order.
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 90% of U.S. communities.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfireLightning
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Seneca
Most working residents leave Seneca for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are John Day (8%), Portland (8%) and Bend (6%). Half commute less than 116 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Seneca2%
John Day8%
Portland8%
Bend6%
Dayville3%
116 mi
median commute distance
15
jobs based in Seneca
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Schools
Seneca’s public schools outperform 68% of Oregon districts
The public schools Seneca’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 68% of Oregon’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Elementary School | K–6 | 12 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OR on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Seneca has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 16°.
83°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–38°
Spring28–54°
Summer41–79°
Fall28–58°
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
83°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Seneca is
Seneca beats the Oregon average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
26 measures vs. Oregon
2 better17 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Seneca | OR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 77.6% | 71.4% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 87.5% | 84% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.5% | 8.9% |
Blue Mountain Hospital
19.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
0.5% of Seneca is conserved land
0.8 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0.5%conserved
0.5%
conserved · 2 of 506 acres
0.8 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Malheur National Forest | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Seneca for work
Where Seneca’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
15jobs based in Seneca
2%of working residents work in town
116 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Seneca
City in Oregon, United States
Seneca is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is located in the Blue Mountains about 23 miles (37 km) south of Canyon City, on U.S. Route 395, on the edge of the Malheur National Forest. As of the 2020 census, Seneca had a population of 165.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1970
- Population
- 165
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,692 ft
- ZIP code
- 97873
- Area code
- 541
More about Seneca
Still missing for Seneca:a photo of Senecaupcoming events