Seneca, Missouri
Location of Seneca, Missouri
Coordinates: 36°50′25″N 94°36′36″W / 36.84028, -94.61
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Newton
Area
- Total	1.7 sq mi (4.5 km²)
- Land	1.7 sq mi (4.5 km²)
- Water	1.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	846 ft (258 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,135
- Density	1,231.2/sq mi (475.4/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	64865
Area code(s)	417
FIPS code	29-66674[1]
GNIS feature ID	0726201[2]

Seneca is a city in Newton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,135 at the 2000 census.

2008 tornado

Several houses in the city was destroyed by a tornado on Saturday May 10, 2008.^[3] The Early Show broadcast their national weather report from the city on the following Monday morning.

Geography

Seneca is located at 36°50′25″N, 94°36′36″W (36.840318, -94.609918)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,135 people, 820 households, and 575 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,231.2 people per square mile (476.5/km²). There were 876 housing units at an average density of 505.2/sq mi (195.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.99% White, 0.09% African American, 6.56% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 3.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.

There were 820 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,441, and the median income for a family was $37,566. Males had a median income of $28,264 versus $19,662 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,525. About 8.8% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

Interesting facts

Seneca is located in Lost Creek Valley 5 miles upstream from the Grand Land of the Cherokees and 5 miles downstream from the quaint Old Settler's town of Racine. The Frisco Railroad (now Burlington-Northern) runs through this valley. Prior to 1959, highway traffic to and from Oklahoma largely followed US 60 through Seneca rather than the more famous Route 66 with which it joins about 15 miles west of Seneca. At that time Seneca was a thriving and beautiful roadside stop. The Drive-In next to the Lost Creek bridge was a "must-stop" for kids who tired of being cooped up in the car.

Seneca is home to American Tripoli, producer of "Seneca Standard" grades of tripoli, a naturally occurring microcrystalline silica product which is used as an abrasive and metal polishing compound. Processing is done in Seneca, but much of the raw material is now mined in Oklahoma. Rock and mineral collectors can pick up samples of this "stone that floats" from alongside the railroad siding near the unloading area of the plant.

A famous landmark in Seneca is the giant can of Milnot (an evaporated milk product that substitutes vegetable oil for the butter-fat) located on the factory roof at the State Line. Before the Oklahoma toll-road to Joplin was opened in 1959, this landmark on US Route 60 meant "Welcome to Missouri". It has now been updated to the new label design, since J.M. Smucker took over ownership.

An exciting series of hills and dips on Route 43 south of Seneca has provided roller-coaster thrills to (perhaps recklessly speeding) automobile drivers for at least 70 years. This same road leads to a Missouri Department of Conservation access point on the beautiful Elk River, a dozen miles south of Seneca.

Notable natives

• Morris Watts - Former assistant football coach at Michigan St. University.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ Pollution may have indirectly saved lives in Okla. town; May 12, 2008; International Herald Tribune; Retrieved May 12, 2008
4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Seneca, Missouri is at coordinates 36°50′25″N 94°36′36″W / 36.840318, -94.609918 (Seneca, Missouri)Coordinates: 36°50′25″N 94°36′36″W / 36.840318, -94.609918 (Seneca, Missouri)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Newton County, Missouri County seat: Neosho Cities Diamond | Fairview | Granby | Joplin | Neosho | Seneca Villages Cliff Village | Dennis Acres | Grand Falls Plaza | Leawood | Loma Linda | Newtonia | Redings Mill | Ritchey | Shoal Creek Drive | Shoal Creek Estates | Silver Creek | Saginaw | Stark City | Stella | Wentworth Unincorporated communities Hornet | Monark Springs | Racine | Spring City | Tipton Ford | Wanda