| Ava, Missouri | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Ava, Missouri | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| County | Douglas |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Eddie Maggard[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km2) |
| • Land | 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,283 ft (391 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,993 |
| • Density | 965.5/sq mi (374.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 65608 |
| Area code(s) | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-02674[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0735491[3] |
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[4]. The city was founded in 1871 and was named Ava in 1881 after being renamed from the town's original name, Militia Springs.
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Ava is located at (36.955176, -92.663114)[5]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2), all of it land.
The area was settled during the 1830s and Douglas County was incorporated in 1857 with Vera Cruz as county seat. 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.[6] Militia Springs was the location of an encampment of Union soldiers or Missouri Militia during the Civil War.[7]
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.[8] The current court house on the southeast corner of the town square was constructed in 1937.[8]
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.[9]
A city park located on 6th Street is Militia Springs Park. It has a play area and pavillion.[10]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 134 |
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| 1890 | 221 | 64.9% | |
| 1910 | 713 |
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| 1920 | 845 | 18.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,041 | 23.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,393 | 33.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,611 | 15.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,581 | −1.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,504 | 58.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,761 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,938 | 6.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,021 | 2.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,993 | −0.9% | |
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As of the census[2] 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.
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