Avoca, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Avoca is a borough within the Greater Pittston area
of Luzerne County
, Pennsylvania
, ten miles (16 km) northeast of Wilkes Barre and nine miles (15 km) southwest of Scranton
. The population was 2,851 at the 2000 census. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
(AVP) is located in Pittston Township located near Avoca.
. As is true of much of Pennsylvania, the mining of coal was a key industry in the past. 3,847 people lived in Avoca in 1900, and 4,634 in 1910.
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.
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.
Greater Pittston
Greater Pittston is a region in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in reference to the area in and around Pittston. The total population of the Greater Pittston area is around 50,000 people...
of Luzerne County
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, ten miles (16 km) northeast of Wilkes Barre and nine miles (15 km) southwest of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
. The population was 2,851 at the 2000 census. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is an airport located in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, near the border of Luzerne County and Lackawanna County, halfway between the cities of Wilkes-Barre and Scranton...
(AVP) is located in Pittston Township located near Avoca.
History
It was incorporated in 1871 when it was called Pleasant Valley, but changed its name to Avoca in 1887 as there was another 'Pleasant Valley' in Pennsylvania. It suffered tragedy in 1888 when 37 inhabitants were killed in a train wreck known as the Mud Run DisasterMud Run Disaster
The Mud Run Disaster was a train wreck which occurred on October 10, 1888 at Mud Run station in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, on the Lehigh Valley Railroad when a train ran into the back of another, killing 66 people.-Trains:...
. As is true of much of Pennsylvania, the mining of coal was a key industry in the past. 3,847 people lived in Avoca in 1900, and 4,634 in 1910.
Geography
Avoca is located at 41°20′20"N 75°44′30"W (41.338925, -75.741805).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, 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.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,851 people, 1,177 households, and 787 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.