Avon is a city in
Stearns County,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, United States. The population was 1,396 at the
2010 census.
It is part of the
St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
.
History
Avon was laid out in 1873.
The community is named after the
River Avon, in England. A post office has been in operation at Avon since 1873. Avon was incorporated in 1900.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Interstate 94/
U.S. Highway 52 and Stearns County Road 9 are two of the main routes in the city. Other routes include County Road 54.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, there were 1,396 people, 557 households, and 393 families living in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: 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 geographical ...
was . There were 592 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.9%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 0.3%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.4%
Native American, 0.6%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.5% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 0.4% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 557 households, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were
married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.4% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median age in the city was 34.2 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 1,242 people, 470 households, and 355 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 492 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 99.36%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 0.08%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.24% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 0.32% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 470 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were
married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,721, and the median income for a family was $53,214. Males had a median income of $37,386 versus $25,238 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $19,980. About 1.3% of families and 3.1% of the population were 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 t ...
, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
Within Avon's city boundaries are three lakes which are named Upper Spunk, Middle Spunk, and Lower Spunk Lake. In honor of these lakes, Avon hosts an annual celebration called "''Spunktacular Days''", "''Spunk Days''" for short. The word "spunk"
[Definition of "spunk"](_blank)
/ref> means material to start a fire, or torchwood, which settlers used to gather in the area. In total there are eight lakes within the city of Avon.
Each May since 2008, the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon
The Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon is a 26.2 mile foot race from Holdingford, Minnesota, to St. Joseph, Minnesota, on a paved trail called the Lake Wobegon Trail.
The course is USATF-certified, making it a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon. ...
runs through Avon, and relies on many volunteers to staff cheering areas and water stations.
Sports teams
Avon is home to the Avon Lakers, whom are part of the Amateur Baseball Victory League. The club was established in July 1979 by the Avon Lions Club when official construction of its baseball park began. The Avon Loins Club purchased land directly south of the old park which at that time consisted of a pasture and a small pond.
The Avon Lakers and the City of Avon sponsor the Region 8C Baseball Tournament.
References in popular culture
In the 35th anniversary broadcast of the radio variety show,[A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor , American Public Media, 35th anniversary show announcement](_blank)
/ref> '' A Prairie Home Companion'', which was performed live in Avon on July 4, 2009, radio personality Garrison Keillor referred to Avon as being "about as close to Lake Wobegon
Lake Wobegon is a fictional town created by Garrison Keillor as the setting of the recurring segment "News from Lake Wobegon" for the radio program ''A Prairie Home Companion'' broadcast from St Paul, Minnesota. The fictional town serves as the s ...
as you can get."
Notable person
* Alphonsus Augustus Sowada (1933–2014), Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
Bishop; born in Avon.['Bishop Alphose Sowada, an Avon native, dead at 84,' ''Saint Cloud Times (SCTimes.com),'' Retrieved January 11, 2014]
References
External links
City Website
Avon, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in Minnesota
Cities in Stearns County, Minnesota
St. Cloud, Minnesota metropolitan area