Avoca, Pennsylvania

Avoca, Pennsylvania
Borough
The 1910 Municipal Building

Location of Avoca in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Avoca
Location of Avoca in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Avoca
Avoca (the US)
Coordinates: 41°20′20″N 75°44′30″W / 41.33889°N 75.74167°W / 41.33889; -75.74167Coordinates: 41°20′20″N 75°44′30″W / 41.33889°N 75.74167°W / 41.33889; -75.74167
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Luzerne
Region Greater Pittston
Incorporated 1871
Government
 • Type Borough Council Mayor
Area[1]
 • Total 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
 • Land 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation 735 ft (224 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 2,661
 • Estimate (2016)[2] 2,614
 • Density 2,532.95/sq mi (978.14/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip code 18641
Area code(s) 570
FIPS code 42-03640

Avoca is a borough within the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 7.5 miles (12.1 km) northeast of Wilkes Barre and 3.4 miles (5.5 km) southwest of Scranton. The population was 2,661 at the 2010 census.[3] The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) is located near Avoca (in Pittston Township).

History

Dozens of Avoca residents were killed in the Mud Run Disaster.

The community was incorporated as a borough in 1871. Its original name was “Pleasant Valley.” However, in 1887, it changed its name to “Avoca,” because the name "Pleasant Valley" was already used elsewhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[4] It was named after Avoca, County Wicklow, in Ireland. The following year, on October 10, 1888, the borough suffered a major tragedy when dozens of its own residents were killed in a train wreck known as the Mud Run Disaster. It occurred at 8:02 p.m., when two trains collided in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania. A majority of the 64 killed were from Avoca. The other casualties were from Scranton, Moosic and other neighboring communities.

From 1945 to 1947, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport was constructed in and around Avoca. A small portion of the airport was built in Avoca, while most of it was constructed in the neighboring Pittston Township. Coal mining was the chief industry in the borough for many decades. However, after the 1959 Knox Mine Disaster, the mining industry in the region collapsed.

Geography

Avoca is located at 41°20′20″N 75°44′30″W / 41.33889°N 75.74167°W / 41.33889; -75.74167 (41.338925, -75.741805).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), all of it land. The borough is served by the Pittston Area School District.

Houses in Avoca
Langcliffe Presbyterian in 2016
Queen of the Apostles Church
Former railroad station in Avoca

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,913—
18903,03158.4%
19003,48715.0%
19104,68434.3%
19204,9505.7%
19304,943−0.1%
19404,771−3.5%
19504,040−15.3%
19603,562−11.8%
19703,543−0.5%
19803,536−0.2%
19902,897−18.1%
20002,851−1.6%
20102,661−6.7%
Est. 20162,614[2]−1.8%
Sources:[6][7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 2,851 people, 1,177 households, and 787 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,186.0 people per square mile (1,236.8/km2). There were 1,267 housing units at an average density of 1,415.9 per square mile (549.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.26% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.11% of the population.

There were 1,177 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $34,973, and the median income for a family was $44,185. Males had a median income of $33,835 versus $27,448 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,896. About 5.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Aug 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Avoca borough, Pennsylvania". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.luzernecounty.org/living/municipalities/avoca_borough Avoca Borough
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  7. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.


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