Avon, Iowa Explained

Official Name:Avon, Iowa
Settlement Type:Former unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Iowa#USA
Mapsize:250x200px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Polk County
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:850
Coordinates:41.5286°N -93.5233°W

Avon is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Iowa, United States.

History

The original townsite of Avon was platted by Charles Keeney in either 1855, or 1856. Nearby Avon Lake, one mile southeast, was founded when the railroad bypassed Avon. The first schoolhouse in the area was built in 1856.[1]

At Avon's founding, it was the only village in Allen Township, and enjoyed several early years of prosperity. It had a large hotel, a United Bretheren church, several stores, and more than 20 houses.[2] The Avon post office began operations in 1857.[3]

Avon's population was 6 in 1900,[4] 11 in 1925,[5] and 18 in 1925.[6]

The Avon post office closed in 1927.[3]

Avon's population was 22 in 1940.[7]

Avon's cemetery was previously known as Watts Cemetery.

On March 5, 2022, an EF4 tornado struck the town (albeit at a slightly weaker strength), damaging multiple homes and facilities.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Anon. (1880). The History of Polk County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, its Towns, Etc. Birdsall, Williams and Company. p. 622.
  2. Book: Dixon, J. M. . Centennial History of Polk County, Iowa . 1876 . State register, print . 53 . en.
  3. Web site: Post Offices . 2022-12-06 . www.postalhistory.com.
  4. Book: Cram's Modern Atlas: The New Unrivaled New Census Edition . 1902 . J. R. Gray & Company . 203–207 . en.
  5. Web site: Atlas of Johnson County, Iowa, 1917 . 2022-12-05.
  6. Book: Premier Atlas of the World: Containing Maps of All Countries of the World, with the Most Recent Boundary Decisions, and Maps of All the States,territories, and Possessions of the United States with Population Figures from the Latest Official Census Reports, Also Data of Interest Concerning International and Domestic Political Questions . 1925 . Rand McNally & Company . 190 . en.
  7. Book: The Attorneys List . United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Attorney List Department . 1940 . 293 . en.
  8. Web site: Norwalk suffers widespread damage in Saturday's storm . KCCI . 8 March 2022 . en . 7 March 2022.