Ava, Missouri

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. The city was founded in 1871. It was renamed Ava in 1881, the town's original name having been "Militia Springs."

Geography

Ava is located in the southern portion of the Missouri Ozarks within the southern escarpment of the Salem Plateau. The lakes of the White River basin of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri lie to the south. The town is at the intersection of Missouri highways 5, 14 and 76. Mansfield is 13 miles to the north and Gainesville is about 30 miles south. Elevation of the town varies from 1,150 to 1,400 feet (350 to 430 m).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.30 square miles (8.55 km²), all of it land.

Ava is served by the AM-FM station pair of KKOZ and KKOZ-FM.

History

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. Militia Springs was the location of an encampment of Union soldiers or Missouri Militia during the American Civil War.