Population32,883 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
Between Two Lakes With National History
Seneca County, New YorkSeneca County occupies a Finger Lakes landscape between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, with Waterloo and Ovid sharing county-seat status. Women’s Rights National Historical Park adds national significance, while portions of Finger Lakes National Forest and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge offer contrasting natural settings across the county. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated 32,883 residents in Seneca County, New York, on July 1, 2025.
Seneca County at a Glance
Population32,883 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatWaterloo and Ovid
StateNew York
Established1804
ZIP CodesVary by address
Total Area, Including Water390.424 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesInterstate 90; U.S. Route 20; State Route 5; State Route 89; State Route 96; State Route 96A
Area CodesSee local phone listings
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Discover Seneca County
Seneca County
Seneca County was established in 1804 in a region associated with both Seneca and Cayuga peoples of the Haudenosaunee. Ovid was the original county seat before government moved to Waterloo in 1819. A two-shire arrangement adopted in 1822 retained both places as county seats. This unusual civic structure remains important when reading local history. The county’s later national significance also includes the women’s-rights story preserved through Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
The county’s position between Seneca and Cayuga lakes creates a clear geographic framework for a visit. Waterloo, Ovid, and Seneca Falls provide different community reference points. Portions of Finger Lakes National Forest and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge add natural landscapes alongside the women’s-rights historical sites. Planning by community and lake corridor helps connect these places while respecting the distances between the county’s northern and southern areas.
What Shapes Us
Local Character
Women’s Rights National Historical Park adds national significance, while portions of Finger Lakes National Forest and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge offer contrasting natural settings across the county.
Community History
Seneca County was established in 1804 in a region associated with both Seneca and Cayuga peoples of the Haudenosaunee. Ovid was the original county seat before government moved to Waterloo in 1819.
Around the County
The county’s position between Seneca and Cayuga lakes creates a clear geographic framework for a visit. Waterloo, Ovid, and Seneca Falls provide different community reference points.
Two lakes frame many chapters of community history.
A Closer Look
Seneca County
Places and perspectives from Seneca County
New York State Department of Transportation
New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology
Read the Story Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Seneca County
Stories from every corner of Seneca County.
New York & Atlantic Railway Receives $6.5 Million Federal CRISI Grant, Joining State and Private Funding in a $10.9 Million Partnership to Upgrade Four Locomotives with Cleaner Technology
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
State Department of Transportation to Host Two Public Information Meetings for Proposed Projects in Towns of Wirt and Burns, Allegany County
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
State Department of Transportation Announces Completion of $19.9 Million Bridge Replacement Project in Hamilton County
Oct 28, 2026 • 2 min read
Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Major Work on the Transformative Van Wyck Expressway Project
Oct 26, 2026 • 2 min read
War on Potholes: Governor Hochul Fills the One Millionth Pothole on State Roads in 2026
Oct 22, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
County photographs from Wikimedia Commons; images may be cropped for display.
- Van Cleef Lake, Seneca Falls, New York – 20220917.jpg — Andre Carrotflower. CC BY-SA 4.0. Own work
- Bridge Street bridge, Seneca Falls, New York – 20230102.jpg — Andre Carrotflower. CC BY-SA 4.0. Own work
- St. Patrick RC Church, Seneca Falls, New York – 20220806.jpg — Andre Carrotflower. CC BY-SA 4.0. Own work
- Cayuga-Seneca Canal at Seneca Falls, June 2017.jpg — Andre Carrotflower. CC BY-SA 4.0. Own work
Government
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Romulus Central School – Other; grades PK-12. 5705 RT 96, ROMULUS, NY 14541. 866-810-0345.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Elementary School – Elementary; grades 03-05. 38 GARDEN ST, SENECA FALLS, NY 13148. 315-568-5500.
South Seneca Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-05. 8326 MAIN ST, INTERLAKEN, NY 14847. 607-869-9636.
La Fayette School – Elementary; grades 03-05. 71 INSLEE ST, WATERLOO, NY 13165. 315-539-1530.
Mynderse Academy – High; grades 09-12. 105 TROY ST, SENECA FALLS, NY 13148. 315-568-5500.
Seneca Falls Middle School – Middle; grades 06-08. 95 TROY ST, SENECA FALLS, NY 13148. 315-568-5500.
South Seneca Middle/High School – High; grades 06-12. 7263 S MAIN ST, OVID, NY 14521. 607-869-9636.
New York statewide resources
Hospitals
Find hospitals, clinics, health providers, health plans and public-health information using official New York State tools.
- NYS Health Profiles — Find and compare hospitals, nursing homes, home care, hospice and other health-care providers.
- Hospital Directory — Browse New York hospitals and hospital campuses with contact information.
- Hospitals & Clinics — State information about hospitals and diagnostic and treatment centers.
- Health Care Facilities — Resources for hospitals, nursing homes, home care, hospice and other facilities.
- Provider & Health Plan Look-Up — Search providers and facilities by health plan, location and service.
- New York State of Health — Official health-plan marketplace for coverage and enrollment information.
- Medicaid in New York — Eligibility, enrollment and program information for New York Medicaid.
- Local Health Departments — Connect with state and local public-health offices and programs.
New York statewide resources
Public Safety
Use these official resources for law-enforcement information, criminal-justice services, safety programs and public-safety assistance.
- New York State Police — State Police services, safety information, news and contact resources.
- Division of Criminal Justice Services — Criminal-justice programs, public-safety resources, statistics and services.
- Sex Offender Registry — Search New York State public sex-offender registry information.
- Missing Persons Clearinghouse — Official missing-person information and resources.
- Office of Victim Services — Information about victim compensation, assistance programs and local service providers.
- Traffic Safety — Statewide traffic-safety programs, education and highway-safety information.
- Homeland Security & Emergency Services — Preparedness, emergency management, fire prevention and homeland-security programs.
- NY.gov Safety & Justice Services — Search state services related to safety, justice and identification.
New York statewide resources
Emergency Services
For life-threatening emergencies call 911. These resources help with statewide alerts, preparedness, road conditions, disasters and emergency information.
- NY-Alert — Sign up for emergency notifications and public-safety alerts.
- Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services — Emergency management, disaster preparedness, fire prevention and response resources.
- Before an Emergency — Build an emergency plan, prepare supplies and learn how to stay informed.
- 511NY — Check traffic, transit, road closures, incidents and travel conditions.
- National Weather Service — Official weather forecasts, watches, warnings and severe-weather information.
- FEMA — Federal disaster preparedness, response and assistance resources.
- American Red Cross — New York — Disaster assistance, preparedness information, shelters and local services.
- New York State Police — State Police contacts and public-safety information.
New York statewide resources
State Parks
Plan a New York park trip with official park finders, camping tools, events, passes, historic sites and recreation information.
- Find a State Park — Search New York state parks by region, county and recreation options.
- New York State Parks — Main portal for parks, historic sites, recreation, events and visitor information.
- Camping — Camping information, policies and reservation guidance for state parks.
- Park Activities — Explore trails, boating, swimming, golf, birding and seasonal activities.
- Park Regions — Browse parks and recreation opportunities by New York State Parks region.
- Historic Sites — Explore state-operated historic sites, museums and heritage destinations.
- DEC Places to Go — Find state forests, wildlife areas, campgrounds and other DEC-managed lands.
- DEC Camping — Camping information for DEC campgrounds and backcountry areas.
New York statewide resources
Trails
Find hiking, biking and multi-use trails, maps, safety information and public-land recreation throughout New York.
- DEC Hiking — Hiking destinations, seasonal suggestions, trail guidance and Hike Smart NY safety information.
- New York State Parks Trails — Trail information for parks and historic-site properties.
- DECinfo Locator — Interactive map for trails, parking, campsites, lean-tos and state-managed lands.
- Empire State Trail — Official information for the statewide multi-use trail connecting major regions of New York.
- Accessible Recreation — Find accessible hiking, fishing, boating, camping and picnic locations.
- State Park Activities — Browse hiking, biking, snowmobiling and other outdoor recreation options.
- DEC Places to Go — Discover public lands and recreation areas across the state.
- Hike Smart NY — Safety, planning and preparedness information for New York hikers.
Utilities
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Interlaken Public Library – 8390 Main Street, Interlaken, NY 14847. 607-532-4341.
Lodi Whittier Library – 8484 South Main Street, Lodi, NY 14860. 607-582-6218.
Edith B. Ford Memorial Library Of Ovid, New York – 7169 North Main Street, Ovid, NY 14521. 607-869-3031.
Seneca Falls Library – 47 Cayuga Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148. 315-568-8256.
Waterloo Library And Historical Society – 31 East Williams Street, Waterloo, NY 13165. 315-539-3313.
New York statewide resources
Courts
Find courts, case information, forms, self-help guidance and court services through the New York State Unified Court System.
- New York Courts — Main portal for the New York State Unified Court System.
- Find a Court — Search courts by county, court type and case type.
- CourtHelp — Plain-language information for people handling common court matters.
- eCourts — Access public case information for supported New York court matters.
- Court Forms — Find statewide and court-specific forms.
- Programs & Services — Access ADR, accessibility, criminal-history search and other court-user services.
- Jury Service — Official New York juror information and service guidance.
- Law Libraries — Find court law libraries and legal-research assistance.
DMV
New York statewide resources
Transportation
Check traffic and transit conditions, travel information, state highways and transportation services before you go.
- New York State Department of Transportation — State highway, transportation program, project and safety information.
- 511NY — Live traffic, incidents, road conditions, transit and travel information.
- NYSDOT Travel Center — Travel tools, winter road conditions, transit information and trip-planning resources.
- 511NY TransLinks — Find public transportation, paratransit and travel links by region or county.
- New York State Thruway Authority — Thruway traffic, tolling, service areas and traveler information.
- MTA — Subway, bus, commuter rail and transit information for the New York metropolitan region.
- Amtrak New York — Intercity passenger rail information serving New York destinations.
- Travel Information, Advisories & Maps — State travel advisories, maps and road-information links.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Seneca County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Seneca County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
32,883 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
390.424 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with Elections, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with Recycling, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
Start with these official New York resources: DMV Office Locations and Reservations; Renew a License; Registrations. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Search USAJOBS for federal positions and the Apprenticeship Finder for apprenticeship opportunities, using location filters to narrow the results. USAGov job-training guidance points to training programs and state resources. Check each listing for current availability, eligibility and application instructions; a search result does not guarantee an opening in the county.
Seneca County was established in 1804 in a region associated with both Seneca and Cayuga peoples of the Haudenosaunee. Ovid was the original county seat before government moved to Waterloo in 1819. A two-shire arrangement adopted in 1822 retained both places as county seats. This unusual civic structure remains important when reading local history. The county’s later national significance also includes the women’s-rights story preserved through Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
The county’s position between Seneca and Cayuga lakes creates a clear geographic framework for a visit. Waterloo, Ovid, and Seneca Falls provide different community reference points. Portions of Finger Lakes National Forest and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge add natural landscapes alongside the women’s-rights historical sites. Planning by community and lake corridor helps connect these places while respecting the distances between the county’s northern and southern areas.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 323.698 square miles of land and 66.726 square miles of water in Seneca County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
Local Businesses
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