Avoca, Iowa

Avoca, Iowa
City
Downtown Avoca, Iowa
Location of Avoca, Iowa
Avoca Location within Iowa Show map of Iowa Avoca Location within the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 41°28′58″N 95°20′14″W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Pottawattamie
Township	Knox
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Tom Bruck[1]
Area [2]
• Total	2.38 sq mi (6.17 km^2)
• Land	2.38 sq mi (6.17 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation [3]	1,155 ft (352 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,683
• Density	710/sq mi (270/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51521
Area code	712
FIPS code	19-03970
GNIS feature ID	2394042[3]
Website	City of Avoca

Avoca (Irish: Abhóca, meaning 'the great river') is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census.^[4]

History

Avoca was founded in 1869 in connection with the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad through the area.^[5] The city is named after a place mentioned in the Thomas Moore poem "The Meeting of the Waters," about the River Avoca in Ireland.^[6] Avoca quickly developed as a regional service center for the surrounding farms.^[7]

In 2005, Avoca opened a local pool.^[8]

The Pottawatomie County, Iowa county government maintains a second courthouse in Avoca to serve the northeastern portion of the county. Council Bluffs, which is the county seat is in the extreme southwestern part of this large county.^[9]

Geography

The city is situated within Iowa's Loess Hills and located between the West Nishnabotna River and its East Branch.^[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.13 square miles (5.52 km²), all land.^[11]

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1900	1,627	—
1910	1,520	−6.6%
1920	1,482	−2.5%
1930	1,673	+12.9%
1940	1,598	−4.5%
1950	1,595	−0.2%
1960	1,540	−3.4%
1970	1,535	−0.3%
1980	1,650	+7.5%
1990	1,497	−9.3%
2000	1,610	+7.5%
2010	1,506	−6.5%
2020	1,683	+11.8%
Source:"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2020. and Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census[12][4]

The population of Avoca, Iowa from US census data

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 1,506 people, 662 households, and 436 families living in the city. The population density was 707.0 inhabitants per square mile (273.0/km²). There were 711 housing units at an average density of 333.8 per square mile (128.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.8% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9%.^[13]

Of the 662 households 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.1% were non-families. 29.9% of households were one person and 13.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age was 43.2 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,610 people, 666 households, and 458 families living in the city. The population density was 830.6 inhabitants per square mile (320.7/km²). There were 706 housing units at an average density of 364.2 per square mile (140.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.19% White, 0.06% African American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37%.^[14]

Of the 666 households 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.6% of households were one person and 15.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85.

23.2% are under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median household income was $39,826 and the median family income was $45,000. Males had a median income of $30,272 versus $20,284 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,908. About 1.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by the AHSTW Community School District.^[15] In 1957 Avoca combined with the city of Hancock to form the Avo-Ha Community School District. On July 1, 1996, the district merged into the A-H-S-T Community School District combining with nearby towns of Shelby and Tennant. In turn, the conglomerate merged into AHSTW on July 1, 2016 when the small town of Walnut joined. The school and towns are a great safe place to raise a family.^[16]

Notable people

• Richard Beymer (born 1938), the actor best known as Tony, the lead role in West Side Story^[17]
• Johnny Carson (1925-2005), the television comedian, lived in Avoca as a child until his family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska in 1936.^[18]
• Edwin T. Meredith (1876–1928), Secretary of Agriculture under president Woodrow Wilson^[19]
• Richard C. Turner (1927-1986), Iowa lawyer and politician, was born in Avoca.^[20]

References

1. "Elected Officials for Avoca in Pottawattamie County, Iowa". elections.pottcounty-ia.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Avoca, Iowa
4. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
5. History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa: Containing a History from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. O. L. Baskin & Company. 1883. pp. 244.
6. "City of Avoca - History of Avoca".
7. Pottawatamie Count Historical Society article on Avoca Archived March 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
8. MCMAHON, TOM. "A tale of two pools: Avoca and Glenwood". The Daily Nonpareil - Council Bluffs, Iowa. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
9. The Register's Editorial: Iowa's collection of courthouses will remain at 101, at least for now The Register’s Editorial Board, Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Published 12 SEP 2014
10. "Pottawattamie LHHW". Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. "AHSTW Archived 2018-04-27 at the Wayback Machine." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 15, 2018.
16. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66 Archived 2019-02-09 at the Wayback Machine." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.
17. "FilmReference". Richard Beymer biography. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
18. "People In The News". Associated Press. July 2, 1986. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
19. "Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia". American President Woodrow Wilson/Edwin T. Meredith Secretary of Agriculture. Archived from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
20. 'U.S. Attorney Turner dies of heart attack,' Des Moines Register, Bob Shaw, September 29, 1986, pg. 1. 11A

External links

• City of Avoca, Iowa
• The Pottawattamie County Genealogical Society
• Roadside America- Avoca Spider Bug
• Farmall- Land Tractor Museum