Avoca () is a city in Murray County,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, United States. The population was 111 at the 2020 census.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is just south of Lime Lake. U.S. Highway 59 and Murray County Roads 6 and 38 are the main routes in the community.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 111 people, 54 households, and 39 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 72 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.4%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.8% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population. There were 54 households, of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.1% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 0% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.8% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.38. The median age in the city was 50.8 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 2.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.3% were from 25 to 44; 37.4% were from 45 to 64; and 22.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.0% male and 47.0% female.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 147 people, 61 households, and 36 families residing in the city. The

was . There were 77 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.2%

, 2.0% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population. There were 61 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were

living together, 3.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.0% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.22. The median age in the city was 44.1 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.7% were from 25 to 44; 36% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 146 people, 67 households, and 38 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 73 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00%

. There were 67 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.82. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $25,313 versus $16,667 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $13,184. There were 7.5% of families and 12.6% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 11.8% of under eighteens and 12.5% of those over 64.

History

In 1879, Avoca was named for the village of Avoca in County Wicklow, Ireland. A

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

school for Native American girls ran circa 1882-1896 and later reopened in 1905 as a boys military school until it was destroyed by fire on February 12, 1910. The town's water supply was frozen, which meant that the building was unable to be saved. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church suffered a fire in 1889 but was rebuilt though it is now closed and the structure torn down. Three former

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

churches long ago merged into Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church ( ELCA), which closed in August, 2018. The

nondenominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. The term has been used in the context of various faiths, including Jainism, Baháʼí Faith, Zoro ...

Word of Faith Fellowship, established 1983, is the only church currently in town. A public school was built in 1894, but is no longer in use. Avoca suffered two devastating fires, first in 1907 then again in 1952.

Politics

Avoca is located in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by Regal attorney Michelle Fischbach, a Republican. At the state level, Avoca is located in

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

District 21, represented by Republican Mike Goggin, and in

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

District 21A, represented by Republican Barb Haley.

References

{{authority control Cities in Minnesota Cities in Murray County, Minnesota