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Seneca, Missouri

16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1907 and the latest in 1986. It stands in Seneca Township. It lies in ZIP code area 64865. It stands on Little Lost Creek. The Survey maps it on the Seneca quadrangle. 2,230 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 846 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Seneca within Newton County

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 16 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

78 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 78 fires within 5 miles of Seneca between 1992 and 2020, burning about 2,209 acres in total. 10 started naturally. 14 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning31
Missing data/not specified/undetermined18
Arson/incendiarism14
Natural10
Equipment and vehicle use4
Other causes1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 September 1995Equipment and vehicle use38 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
4 September 2000Debris and open burning3.0 acresMiami AgencyMODOC
7 August 2011Arson/incendiarism200 acresOklahoma Division of Forestry30427
30 August 1995Missing data/not specified/undetermined25 acresOklahoma Division of Forestrynot named
20 July 2013Debris and open burningunder an acreMiami AgencyINTERTRIBAL
17 July 2020Debris and open burning1.2 acresMissouri Department of Conservation230836-07355-07172020-1544
10 July 2012Debris and open burningunder an acreMiami AgencyBLUEJACKET
8 May 2010Equipment and vehicle use1.4 acresMiami AgencyEAST BUNKER

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Newton County

Mines and quarries near this place

9 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 9 workings within 5 miles of Seneca: 8 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Lead, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Diatomite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Seneca Standard Tripoli MineDiatomiteProducer
Unknown - TripoliSilicaPast Producer
Unknown - Zn & PbZinc, LeadPast Producer
Unknown Limestone PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Potwin & Holmes MineLeadPast Producer
Sibley DiggingsLeadPast Producer
Unknown - PbLeadPast Producer

Every working recorded in Newton County

Storms near this place

60 of 80 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Seneca in 80 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 29 hail, 28 thunderstorm wind, 16 flash flood, 5 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 2009Thunderstorm WindSeneca$3,000,000Severe thunderstorm wind gusts ranging between 60 and 80 mph caused widespread damage to trees, power poles, and structures across much of Newton County. A roof was destroyed on a mobile home located near the intersection of Iris Road and Highway NN. Rain fell into the home, destroying the rest of the structure. In Diamond there were two buisinesses that had significant roof damage. The Dollar General Store in Neosho sustained roof damage and allowed water to enter the store. One building was destroyed at a fiberglass company in Neosho. A few thousand residences had lost power due to fallen power poles and lines.
June 2019Flash FloodSeneca$580,000Several post on social media showed flooding in downtown Seneca with water entering some businesses. The dollar damage amount is a summary for all damages in Newton County for this event.
May 2011Flash FloodSeneca$500,000Forty homes were flooded. Twenty-five individuals had to be rescued. Numerous businesses were flooded.
May 2011Flash FloodSeneca$500,000Numerous small businesses and houses were flooded in the center of town.
May 2015Tornado (EF0)Seneca$200,000A NWS Storm survey found an EF-1 tornado started in northeast Oklahoma and crossed into southwest Missouri near about 4 miles south of Seneca. The tornado lifted about 4 miles west of Neosho. Several outbuilding structures were completely destroyed. Numerous trees were uprooted. The path width was approximately 200 yards wide and the path length was approximately 10 miles long. Maximum winds were estimated at 90 mph.
June 2021Flash FloodSeneca$150,000Evacuations of several homes along Lost Creek in the City of Seneca occurred as the creek rose rapidly out of its banks. Water was reported in basements and some businesses. No injuries were reported.
May 2013Tornado (EF1)Seneca$100,000An EF-1 tornado crossed over the Oklahoma and Missouri state line into Seneca. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. Winds were estimated around 100 mph.
April 2016Tornado (EF1)Seneca$50,000A NWS storm survey confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down approximately two miles north of Seneca, Missouri. The path was approximately one mile long with a width of 150 yards. Maximum winds were estimated up to 90 mph. The tornado uprooted numerous trees and caused damage to a local church as well as a few homes in the area.
March 2008Tornado (EF1)Seneca$50,000This tornado is an extension of the Ottawa County, Oklahoma tornado. A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado impacted sections of western Newton County. Several outbuildings were damaged and destroyed along with damage to several trees.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindSeneca$50,000no account filed
August 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca$30,000Several reports of large tree limbs and power lines downed in Seneca.
May 2011Flash FloodSeneca$25,000Eight inch water main ruptured due to flooding along Saint Louise Street near Eugene Street at Little Lost Creek.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca$20,000Report of a roof blown off in Seneca at Highway 43.
June 2021Flash FloodSeneca$20,000Bethel Road south of Kentucky Road was washed out from heavy rainfall and flooding.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindSeneca$20,000no account filed
May 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca$14,000A large tree took out several power lines in Seneca off Rhonda/Grand Avenue.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindSeneca$10,000Numerous trees were damaged or blown down along with several power lines in Seneca. Minor damage occurred to several homes because of fallen large tree branches and trees.
April 2016Thunderstorm WindSeneca$5,000Several trees and power lines were blown down.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindSeneca$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees and power lines in a path from Seneca to Neosho.
April 1994HailSeneca$5,000no account filed
November 1999Thunderstorm WindSeneca$4,000no account filed
August 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca$1,000Report of a large tree uprooted.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindSeneca$1,000A portion of a large tree fell onto power lines.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindSeneca$1,000Thunderstorm winds damaged an outbuilding.
October 1993Tornado (F1)Seneca$500A brief touchdown twisted trees off.
March 1994HailSeneca$500no account filed
May 2024HailSeneca-Report of golf ball size hail.
May 2024HailSeneca-Social media report of golf ball size hail 3 miles south of Seneca on Missouri Highway 43 in Newton county.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindSeneca-A trained spotter measured 70 mph winds.
July 2023Flash FloodSeneca-Heavy rainfall caused multiple city streets to become flooded and impassable.
September 2023HailSeneca-Quarter sized hail was reported.
August 2023Flash FloodSeneca-Heavy rainfall caused significant street flooding in town as the Lost and Little Lost Creeks rose out of their banks.
April 2022HailSeneca-Penny sized hail was reported.
March 2021Flash FloodSeneca-Excessive rainfall along the Little Lost Creek basin caused flash flooding in Seneca. Numerous roads became impassable to motorists.
June 2021Flash FloodSeneca-Excessive rainfall caused Lost Creek to flow out of its banks flooding Oneida and Main Streets in town.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindSeneca-A large tree was blown over. Several large limbs fell onto a house.
March 2020Flash FloodSeneca-Water was reported over the road in Seneca.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Numerous large branches were reported down.
February 2019Thunderstorm WindSeneca-A large tree limb was reported down next to house via a social media picture.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindSeneca-A tree was reported down at Highway 43 and Redbud Road.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindSeneca-A tree was reported down at Highway K and Bluebird Drive.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindSeneca-There was damage to trees and a few buildings along Hottle Springs Road just south of Highway 60.
May 2017Flash FloodSeneca-Highway 43 was flooded and closed.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Several large tree limbs were blown down in Seneca.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindSeneca-A tree fell down across a driveway.
March 2012FloodSeneca-Two low water crossings were flooded near Seneca.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Several trees were reported down in town.
July 2010Flash FloodSeneca-High water closed Missouri Highway 43 just north of Highway DD.
September 2009Flash FloodSeneca-Flooding occurred near a tributary of Lost Creek from heavy rainfall.
September 2009Heavy RainSeneca-Rainfall total of 4.20 inches was measured.
May 2005Flash FloodSeneca-Flash flooding occurred over several areas of Newton County caused by heavy thunderstorms. Some specific locations that were flooded include, low water crossings that cross Lost Creek, sections of Highway 43 around Seneca, and sections of Highway 86 near Neosho.
November 2003Thunderstorm WindSeneca-Squall line thunderstorms entered the western end of Newton County and caused severe wind damage along with dropping large hail near the community of Seneca. Several street signs and trees were downed.
January 1998Flash FloodSeneca-Heavy rainfall of up to an inch caused flooding of low water bridges in the area.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindSeneca-The local police department reported wind gusts of 60 mph.
May 2017HailSeneca-no account filed
April 2013HailSeneca-no account filed
May 2011HailSeneca-no account filed
March 2010HailSeneca-no account filed
May 2010HailSeneca-no account filed
May 2009HailSeneca-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Newton County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Wela Park3.7 miles16
Seneca Quapaw Agency (historical)4.0 miles16
Westview4.8 miles16
Dessa5.3 miles16
Racine5.8 miles16
Belfast8.5 miles15
Hornet8.8 miles16
Spurgeon9.8 miles14

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on SenecaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q953593The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 726201. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.