Ava, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Ava is the only incorporated city in Douglas County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population was 2,993 at the 2010 census. Ava is the county seat
of Douglas County
. The city was founded in 1871 and was named Ava in 1881 after being renamed from the town's original name, Militia Springs.
, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), all of it land.
. In 1864 the town of Militia Springs was founded and became the new county seat in 1870. The town was platted in 1871 and renamed Ava in 1881 although not incorporated until 1908. Militia Springs was the location of an encampment of Union soldiers or Missouri Militia during the Civil War
.
During and following the Civil War a dispute was ongoing regarding the county seat between Vera Cruz to the east and Arno to the west. In 1871 the citizens of Militia Springs built a court house building and moved the records there as a compromise. However, the building was burned and then rebuilt of hand hewn timbers rather than logs and re-opened in January 1873. The court house was burned again in 1886 and replaced in 1888. The current court house on the southeast corner of the town square was constructed in 1937.
in 1910 the Kansas City, Ozark and Southern Railroad was extended from Mansfield south to Ava to service the growing agricultural and lumbering industries of Douglas County. The railroad was in operation until 1935.
A city park located on 6th Street is Militia Springs Park. It has a play area and pavillion.
of 2000, there were 3,021 people, 1,350 households, and 764 families residing in the city. The population density
was 973.0 people per square mile (376.3/km²). There were 1,493 housing units at an average density of 480.9 per square mile (186.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.79% White, 0.13% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 1,350 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 79.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,331, and the median income for a family was $28,228. Males had a median income of $25,865 versus $16,324 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,307. About 16.0% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 25.8% of those age 65 or over.
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,993 at the 2010 census. Ava is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Douglas County
Douglas County, Missouri
Douglas County is a county located in South Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,684. The largest city and county seat is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 29, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A...
. The city was founded in 1871 and was named Ava in 1881 after being renamed from the town's original name, Militia Springs.
Geography
Ava is located at 36°57′19"N 92°39′47"W (36.955176, -92.663114). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), all of it land.
History
The area was settled during the 1830s and Douglas County was incorporated in 1857 with Vera Cruz as county seatCounty seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. In 1864 the town of Militia Springs was founded and became the new county seat in 1870. The town was platted in 1871 and renamed Ava in 1881 although not incorporated until 1908. Militia Springs was the location of an encampment of Union soldiers or Missouri Militia during the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
.
During and following the Civil War a dispute was ongoing regarding the county seat between Vera Cruz to the east and Arno to the west. In 1871 the citizens of Militia Springs built a court house building and moved the records there as a compromise. However, the building was burned and then rebuilt of hand hewn timbers rather than logs and re-opened in January 1873. The court house was burned again in 1886 and replaced in 1888. The current court house on the southeast corner of the town square was constructed in 1937.
in 1910 the Kansas City, Ozark and Southern Railroad was extended from Mansfield south to Ava to service the growing agricultural and lumbering industries of Douglas County. The railroad was in operation until 1935.
A city park located on 6th Street is Militia Springs Park. It has a play area and pavillion.
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 3,021 people, 1,350 households, and 764 families residing in the city. 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 973.0 people per square mile (376.3/km²). There were 1,493 housing units at an average density of 480.9 per square mile (186.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.79% White, 0.13% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% 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 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 1,350 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 79.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,331, and the median income for a family was $28,228. Males had a median income of $25,865 versus $16,324 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 city was $13,307. About 16.0% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 25.8% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- City of Ava website
- Historic maps of Ava in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
- http://www.census.gov/