To study the stress state induced by seismic load of single span single tower cable-stayed bridge，the three-dimensional finite element model was established using the Midas Civil 2019 software based on a single-span ground-anchored concrete cable-stayed bridge with single and inclined pylon. The effects of ground vibrations and damping ratios on the bending moment and displacement seismic time-history responses of the girder and the tower were studied. It was showed that the global rigidity of cable-stayed bridge was relatively low，the significant vertical bending could be found in the girder in the first 2 orders of natural vibration modes. Consequently，the critical attention should be played to the cable tensioning caused by the bending vibration of girder to avoid the breaking of cables. When the seismic wave was input in the longitudinal direction，the maximum bending moment of the tower was induced at the bottom，causing the concrete cracking easily. The vertical seismic load had the maximum effect on the deformation of the girder in the mid-span，and the minimum effect on the bending moments of the tower at the bottom and girder. The horizontal seismic load had the maximum effect on the deformation of tower top. The reduction of damping ratio had the significantly increasing effect on the time-history responses of bending moments and displacements of the tower and the girder. In the seismic design，the damping ratio should be designed reasonably to effectively improve the seismic responses of the girder and tower，and enhance the structural seismic performance. The research results can provide reference for the seismic design and the calculation of related project.