Townapedia
Downtown Avoca, Iowa
Downtown Avoca, Iowa · Jared Winkler, CC BY-SA 4.0
TurnerHouseAvocaIowa
TurnerHouseAvocaIowa · Travellers & Tinkers, CC BY-SA 4.0
POTTAWATTOMIE COUNTY SUB COURTHOUSE, AVOCA
POTTAWATTOMIE COUNTY SUB COURTHOUSE, AVOCA · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ. M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
GRACELAND CEMETERY CHAPEL, AVOCA, POTTAWATTOMIE COUNTY, IA
GRACELAND CEMETERY CHAPEL, AVOCA, POTTAWATTOMIE COUNTY, IA · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
CHARLES HENRY AND CHARLOTTE NORTON HOUSE, POTTAWATTOMIC COUNTY, IA
CHARLES HENRY AND CHARLOTTE NORTON HOUSE, POTTAWATTOMIC COUNTY, IA · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, JR, CC BY-SA 4.0

Avoca, Iowa

Avoca is a city of 1,444 people in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, founded in 1869.

Loading the weather...
Population1,444 +2.2% since 2019
Elevation1,194 ft 364 m
Founded1869
Land area2.4 sq mi
ZIP code51521
Nearest airportHarlan Municipal Airport (HNR) 7 mi

Why visit Avoca

Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 3 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.

Highlights include Charles Henry and Charlotte Norton House and Francis A. and Rose M. Turner House.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 10°F, and about 30 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Avoca

Avoca (Irish: Abhóca, meaning 'the meeting of the waters') is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census.

From the Wikipedia article Avoca, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Museums and landmarks5

Charles Henry and Charlotte Norton House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Building in Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Francis A. and Rose M. Turner House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Building in Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Graceland Cemetery Chapel

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi

Historic building located in Avoca, Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Pottawattamie County Sub Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

County courthouse in Avoca, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Parks, trails and playgrounds3

Avoca Golf Club

Golf course · 0.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Eddington Memorial Park

Park · 0.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Volkswagen Beetle Spider

Park · 0.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Restaurants and cafes3

The Embers Restaurant And Lounge

Restaurant · 0.8 mi

1817 North Lavista Heights Road, Avoca

Mo-Su 06:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-712-343-2419

Wendy's

Fast food · Burger · 1.2 mi

7005 North Chestnut Street, Avoca

06:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 712-307-6161

Subway

Fast food · Sandwich · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Advertisement

Where to stay2

Acova Inn

Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Avoca

Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi

Open in Google Maps

History

Avoca was founded in 1869 in connection with the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad through the area. The city is named after a place mentioned in the Thomas Moore poem "The Meeting of the Waters," about the River Avoca in Ireland. Avoca quickly developed as a regional service center for the surrounding farms.

The Pottawatomie County, Iowa county government maintains a second courthouse in Avoca to serve the northeastern portion of the county. Council Bluffs, which is the county seat is in the extreme southwestern part of this large county.

From the History section of Avoca, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship4

Shopping1

Advertisement

Gas and EV charging2

Schools, colleges and libraries6

Map of Avoca

26 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 0.9 in of rainFebruary: 1.0 in of rainMarch: 2.0 in of rainApril: 3.3 in of rainMay: 4.7 in of rainJune: 5.2 in of rainJuly: 3.7 in of rainAugust: 4.3 in of rainSeptember: 4.0 in of rainOctober: 2.4 in of rainNovember: 1.4 in of rainDecember: 1.3 in of rainJanuary: 31°FFebruary: 36°FMarch: 50°FApril: 63°FMay: 74°FJune: 84°FJuly: 86°FAugust: 84°FSeptember: 78°FOctober: 65°FNovember: 49°FDecember: 36°FJanuary: 10°FFebruary: 14°FMarch: 25°FApril: 36°FMay: 49°FJune: 60°FJuly: 64°FAugust: 61°FSeptember: 52°FOctober: 39°FNovember: 26°FDecember: 16°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan31°F10°F0.9 in7.6 in
Feb36°F14°F1.0 in7.6 in
Mar50°F25°F2.0 in4.0 in
Apr63°F36°F3.3 in1.5 in
May74°F49°F4.7 in0.0 in
Jun84°F60°F5.2 in0.0 in
Jul86°F64°F3.7 in0.0 in
Aug84°F61°F4.3 in0.0 in
Sep78°F52°F4.0 in0.0 in
Oct65°F39°F2.4 in0.9 in
Nov49°F26°F1.4 in2.2 in
Dec36°F16°F1.3 in6.7 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Harlan (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$73,056median household income
$173,800median home value
$850median monthly rent
49.3median age
24.4%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
68.0%of homes are owner-occupied
24.4 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1818%18 to 3417%35 to 6436%65 and over28%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Pottawattamie County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2024-06-24: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
  • 2024-05-24: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2024-05-14: Severe Storms And Tornadoes (Tornado)
  • 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Harlan Municipal Airport (HNR) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 miles away.

  • Walnut 6 mi east, about 10 min by car
  • Shelby 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
  • Harlan 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
  • Council Bluffs 32 mi southwest, about 51 min by car
  • Bellevue 39 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
  • Omaha 40 mi west, about 1 h by car
  • La Vista 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Papillion 45 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Chalco 46 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • Carroll 47 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.