Avon, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Avon, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =
image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Norfolk
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1700
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1888
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title = Town
Administrator
leader_name = Michael W. McCue
leader_title1 = Board of
Selectmen
leader_name1 = Francis A. Hegarty, Chair
Wayne M. Phillips
Steven P. Rose
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 11.8
area_total_sq_mi = 4.6
area_land_km2 = 11.3
area_land_sq_mi = 4.4
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
population_as_of = 2007
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 4,303
population_density_km2 = 380.8
population_density_sq_mi = 978.0
elevation_m = 67
elevation_ft = 219
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 07 |lats = 50 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 02 |longs = 30 |longEW = W
website = [http://www.avonmass.org/ www.avonmass.org]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 02322
area_code = 508 / 774
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-02935
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618314
footnotes =

Avon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,443 at the 2000 census.

History

Avon was first settled in 1700. It was originally known as East Stoughton, and was a part of Stoughton upon the founding of that town. However, many people in East Stoughton did not approve of how the section of town was treated, and voted to separately form their own town. Avon, which was named for the Avon River in England, was officially incorporated in 1888. The town's seal includes a bust of William Shakespeare, who was from Stratford-upon-Avon, England. (The city of Brockton had originally considered the name for itself as well.)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (4.16%) is water. Avon is bordered by the City of Brockton on the south, Stoughton on the west, Randolph on the northeast, and Holbrook on the east. Avon is 17 miles south of Boston; 27 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island; and 211 miles from New York City.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,443 people, 1,705 households, and 1,220 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,014.7 people per square mile (391.7/km²). There were 1,740 housing units at an average density of 397.4/sq mi (153.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.45% White, 3.74% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.77% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 1,705 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,305, and the median income for a family was $60,625. Males had a median income of $41,582 versus $32,837 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,410. About 4.3% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Avon is governed by a three person Board of Selectmen who appoint a Town Administrator to carry out the day to day executive functions of the Board. The legislative side of the Town is governed by an Open Town Meeting.

Transportation

The town is served by the Brockton Area Transit Authority and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which provides convenient public transit service to Brockton and Boston.

Points of interest

DeMarco Park, Shooters Pub and Big Jim's Liquor store. Samuel Robbins House, Jordan's Furniture, Blanchard's Tavern, St Michaels church, scofields bar and pizzeria, the bridge by the library, Robert F. Crowley Fields, and the Avon bush. There are also 5 Dunkin Donuts, a Wal-Mart, A Home Depot, and a Costco.

Notable residents

*Mike Mottau, Hobey Baker Award Winner, Boston College 2001, Currently playing on the New Jersey Devils
*Sgt Dan Clark "The Singing Trooper"
*Matthew Henderson, Lead guitarist of Beyond City Lights

References

External links

* [http://www.avonmass.org/ Avon Municipal Web Site]