Oconee County, South Carolina, USA

Oconee County occupies the northwestern corner of South Carolina along the Georgia and North Carolina borders, with Walhalla serving as its county seat and Seneca as its largest city. The county was formed in 1868 when the state divided the former Pickens District into Oconee and Pickens counties. Its name comes from a Cherokee word associated with the region, often translated as “land beside the water.” The county extends from the Blue Ridge Mountains to lakes Hartwell, Keowee and Jocassee and is known for its forests, rivers and waterfalls. Oconee County had an estimated population of 83,775 in 2025.