Middle Loup River at Seneca crossing US, 2010
Seneca’s story
138 years in pictures
Census counts: 476 in 1920, 49 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1948 on.
- 1888Seneca is settled
SenecaNE
A town settled in 1888, now home to 45 people.
Photo: Ammodramus · Public domain
Is Seneca a good place to live?
No town among the 58 in Nebraska we compare has a lower median household income than Seneca. Seneca has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
45 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Seneca: who provides what
Seneca is unincorporated, so Thomas County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerCuster Public Power District13.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet2 providers37% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesThomas CountyThomas County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Nebraska you can register online until 18 days before Election Day, in person until 11 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 18 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereThomas County ClerkThomas County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2024
ZIP code6916169161 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Seneca.
Climate
Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in Seneca
In July, afternoons reach 87°; in January, nights fall to 13°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a winter.
42″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–39°
Spring34–60°
Summer57–84°
Fall35–63°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Seneca faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Seneca’s natural-hazard score from FEMA is 65 of 100, against 55 of 100 in Nebraska’s towns and 44 of 100 across U.S. towns. 47% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by hail at 15%.
65risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
Fewer of Seneca’s adults report frequent mental distress than in the typical Nebraska or U.S. town
Just over a quarter of adults feel lonely in Seneca. Of the 58 Nebraska towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Seneca. In Seneca, 15% of adults have been diagnosed with depression, below both the Nebraska town median (18%) and the median of U.S. towns (23%).
| Seneca | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 14% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 30% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 34% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Nebraska
12 better12 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Seneca | NE |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.8% | 12.4% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 7.1% | 9.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.6% | 8.3% |
Cherry County Hospital
59.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Seneca
12pages on Seneca
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Seneca; the nearest are
Mid-Plains Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · North Platte65.8 mi$3,600 in-state tuitionSinte Gleska UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Mission, SD87.4 mi$4,714 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Seneca residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Nebraska.
About Seneca
Unincorporated community in Blaine County, Nebraska, United States
Seneca is an unincorporated community in Thomas County, Nebraska in the Great Plains region of the United States. The population was 49 at the 2020 census. Seneca was established on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in 1888. The location of a division point on the railroad, it was for some years the largest settlement in Thomas County. The population dwindled following the closing of the railroad roundhouse. In 2014, after a dispute on the village board, the residents voted to disincorporate the village.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,979 ft
- ZIP code
- 69161
Questions about Seneca
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Seneca, NE a good place to live?
Seneca has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.