Avoca, Pennsylvania

Avoca is a borough within the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 7.5 miles (12.1 km) northeast of Wilkes Barre and 3.4 miles (5.5 km) southwest of Scranton. The population was 2,661 at the 2010 census. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) is located in Pittston Township and Avoca. Although, the runway runs right through the Luzerne and Lackawanna county borders, into the borough of Moosic.

History

It was incorporated in 1871 when it was called Pleasant Valley, but changed its name to Avoca in 1887 as there was another "Pleasant Valley" in Pennsylvania. It was named after Avoca, County Wicklow, in Ireland. The borough suffered tragedy in 1888 when 37 inhabitants were killed in a train wreck known as the Mud Run Disaster. As is true in much of Pennsylvania, the mining of coal was a key industry in the past. 3,847 people lived in Avoca in 1900, and 4,634 in 1910.

Geography

Avoca is located at 41°20′20″N 75°44′30″W / 41.33889°N 75.74167°W / 41.33889; -75.74167 (41.338925, -75.741805).