Editing Avoca, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Avoca, Pennsylvania
 | other_name               = 
 | native_name              = 
 | nickname                 = 
 | settlement_type          = Borough
 | motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps ----------->
 | image_skyline            = Avoca, PA municipal building, July 2024.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = Municipal Building
 | image_flag               = 
 | flag_size                = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | image_blank_emblem       = 
 | blank_emblem_size        = 
 | pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
 | pushpin_label            = Avoca
 | pushpin_label_position   = left<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
 | pushpin_map_caption      = 
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- Location ------------------>
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Pennsylvania]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[Region]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Greater Pittston]]
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
 | leader_title             = Mayor
 | leader_name              = Bob Mullen
 | leader_title1            = Council<ref>{{cite web | title = Elected Officials & Administration | publisher = Avoca Borough | url = https://avocaborough.com/township-officials/ | accessdate = January 3, 2024}}</ref>
 | leader_name1             = {{Collapsible list
| title        = List of council members
| title_style         =
| frame_style         = border:none; padding: 0;
| list_style          = text-align:left;display:none;
| 1 =*1st Ward: Gary Halagarda (vice president) , Holly Homschek (president), Dennis O’Brien 
| 2 =*2nd Ward: Michael Fuller, Jonathan Gedrich, Alan Kiesinger
| 3 =*3rd Ward: Bob Dommermuth, Jim Emlaw, Kyler Kovaleski
}}
 | established_title        = 
 | established_date         = 
 | established_title1       = Incorporated
 | established_date1        = 1871
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 2.64
 | area_land_km2            = 2.64
 | area_water_km2           = 0.00
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 1.02
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 1.02
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
 | area_water_percent       = 
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
 | population_note          = 
 | population_total         = 2507
 | population_density_km2   = 948.62
 | population_density_sq_mi = 2457.84
 | timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -5
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -4
 | coordinates              = {{coord|41|20|20|N|75|44|30|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_footnotes      = 
 | elevation_m              = 
 | elevation_ft             = 735
 | postal_code_type         = [[Zip Code]]
 | postal_code              = 18641
 | area_code                = [[Area code 570|570]]
 | website                  = 
 | footnotes                = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 42-03640
 | image_map                = File:Luzerne County Pennsylvania Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Avoca Highlighted.svg
 | map_caption              = Location of Avoca in [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
}}
'''Avoca''' is a borough within the [[Greater Pittston]] area of [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]], United States. It is located {{convert|7.5|mi}} northeast of [[Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes Barre]] and {{convert|3.4|mi}} southwest of [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]]. The population was 2,501 at the time of the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref> [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport]] borders Avoca to the east.

== History ==
[[File:MudRunDisaster.jpg|thumb|left|Multiple Avoca residents were killed in the [[Mud Run disaster]] in 1888]]

The community was incorporated as a borough in 1871. Its original name was "Pleasant Valley", and in 1887, it changed to "Avoca", because the name "Pleasant Valley" was already used elsewhere in Pennsylvania.<ref>http://www.luzernecounty.org/living/municipalities/avoca_borough {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709201623/http://www.luzernecounty.org/living/municipalities/avoca_borough |date=2010-07-09 }} Avoca Borough</ref> It was named after [[Avoca, County Wicklow]], Ireland.

In 1888, the majority of the 64 people killed in the [[Mud Run Disaster]], a train wreck, were from Avoca.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Simonsen |first=Mary |title=The Mud Run Train Wreck: A Disaster in the Irish-American Community |publisher=Quail Creek Publishing, LLC |year=2015 |isbn=978-0692348086 |location=Peoria, AZ |language=en}}</ref>

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, Pennsylvania|Pittston Township]]. Coal mining was the chief industry in the borough for many decades. After the 1959 [[Knox Mine Disaster]], the mining industry in the region collapsed.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
{{clear|left}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.9|sqmi|1}}, all of which is land. The borough is served by the [[Pittston Area School District]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 1913
|1890= 3031
|1900= 3487
|1910= 4684
|1920= 4950
|1930= 4943
|1940= 4771
|1950= 4040
|1960= 3562
|1970= 3543
|1980= 3536
|1990= 2897
|2000= 2851
|2010= 2661
|2020= 2501
|estyear=2021
|estimate=2506
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR9">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-03-04|title=Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses }}</ref><ref name=CensusPopEst>{{cite web|title=Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|work=Population Estimates|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611010502/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html|archive-date=11 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Old Municipal Building Avoca PA.jpg|thumb|right|The 1910 Municipal Building]]
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,851 people, 1,177 households, and 787 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|3,186.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,267 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,415.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.

The racial makeup of the borough was 99.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.14% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.21% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.14% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.

The borough's population peaked in 1920 (with 4,950 residents). The population of Avoca has been in constant decline since the 1930s. The population had fallen to 2,630 by 2017.

==Education==
It is in the [[Pittston Area School District]]<!--UNI 19200-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42079_luzerne/DC20SD_C42079.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Luzerne County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42079_luzerne/DC20SD_C42079_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Michael B. Carroll]], member of the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]
*[[Jack Harding]], former [[Miami Hurricanes football|University of Miami]] head football coach

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Luzerne County, Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1871 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1871]]