SENECA SC — The quality of life in Oconee County is a secret that has been slowly leaking out since the mid-1970s, following the completion of Lake Keowee.

Recently, the secret was spilled all over North and South Carolina when a regional retirement magazine ranked Seneca, the county's largest city, as the number one small town in the two states.

"I had a chance to visit late last fall and investigate what they have going for them," said Dan Owens, editor and publisher of the magazine called Retirement Lifestyles in the Carolinas.

"There are a lot of great small towns, but Seneca has a quality of life and friendliness to it," Mr. Owens said.

Mr. Owens said he has traveled extensively throughout the South and has published the Charlotte-based "Retirement Lifestyles" for the past seven years.

In compiling the list, Mr. Owens said he worked with Dr. Charles Longino, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University who has written the book "Retirement Migration in America."

"His analysis shows that Oconee and Pickens counties are among the top hot spots for retirees," Mr. Owens said.
Mr. Owens, who also wrote the article, notes that Seneca is bound by 18,500-acre Lake Keowee and 55,000-acre Hartwell Lake.

"Seneca is slightly slower paced than many Carolina towns," Mr. Owens said. "But, it's probably a little friendlier as well."
Paul and Judy Porter from Indiana liked what they saw when they visited Seneca and decided to buy lakefront property nearby.

"It was a combination of reasons," Mr. Porter said of the move south. "We shopped around the United States, Texas and Colorado and Florida. We wanted to be near a university and we're not gated-community people."

"It's really not a Hilton Head," Mr. Owens said of Seneca. "It attracts a different crowd."

Mr. Porter, 76, sold his insurance firm and now enjoys running, swimming, and cycling. "Anything outdoors," he said.
Seneca Mayor Dan Alexander said the ranking was a nice boost for the area. He credits the people for being the heart of the community.

"I'm proud to be recognized, but it's the quality of people we keep and the goodness of the people coming that makes it such a great area," Mayor Alexander said.

The article points out Seneca, a town of less than 8,000, is midway between Atlanta and Charlotte and is close to Anderson and Greenville. Clemson University is just seven miles from the city's limits.

The quality of life also helps Jim Alexander, executive director of the Oconee County Economic Development Commission, recruit new industries.

"It does help when industrial people retire here and they have their friends come visit and sail and play golf and see how great it is," Mr. Alexander said.

By David Williams / Independent-Mail
April 22, 2003