Seneca River (South Carolina)

Seneca River
Keowee River (portions)
Map
Native nameI'su'nigû (Cherokee)[1]: 522 
Location
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
RegionOconee County, Pickens County, Anderson County
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationClemson
 • coordinates34°41′44″N 82°50′58″W / 34.69556°N 82.84944°W / 34.69556; -82.84944
Mouth 
 • coordinates
34°26′37″N 82°51′22″W / 34.44361°N 82.85611°W / 34.44361; -82.85611

The Seneca River is created by the confluence of the Keowee River and Twelvemile Creek in northwestern South Carolina, downriver from Lake Keowee near Clemson. It is now entirely inundated by Lake Hartwell, and forms a 21-mile-long (34 km)[2] arm of the lake. The Seneca River and the Tugaloo River join to form the Savannah River.[3]

The boundary between the Seneca River and the Keowee River has changed over time. In the Revolutionary War period, the upper part of the Seneca River was often called the Keowee River.[1][4]

In current times, the section of the Keowee River between the Keowee Dam and its confluence with Twelvemile Creek is called the Seneca River on many maps, including the official county highway map.[5] Since this area was flooded by Lake Hartwell, created by damming the Seneca and Tugaloo rivers, this section is often referred to as the Seneca.

  1. ^ a b Mooney, James (2008) [1900]. Myths of the Cherokee. Forgotten Books. p. 270. ISBN 9781605068879.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 26, 2011
  3. ^ "Seneca River". Geographic Names Information System. USGS. 13 July 1980. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Hopewell on the Keowee Church". Horse Trails. Clemson University. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  5. ^ Oconee County General Highway Map (PDF) (Map) (1971 ed.). South Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2009.