It was renamed Ava in 1881, the town's original name having been Militia Springs. Landmarks include Ava Ranger Station Historic District and Missouri Route 5 Business. Ava is the birthplace of Pat Schneider, writer.
Ava, Missouri gifts and souvenirs: 23 designs made from Ava's own map, landmarks and history, from $10 to $95. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Ava Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Ava Vintage Travel Poster | from $40 |
| Ava Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Ava Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Ava Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Ava Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon, in 3 styles
Its landmark photo in a classic travel-poster layout
A local landmark photo as a gallery print
The town's story in dates, from its own records, for home or classroom
Map of local landmarks, washable fabric
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Red heavy-blend crewneck, knit-stitch town print
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
A local landmark photo with the town name, 18″×18″
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
The town's earliest Sanborn fire-insurance map, drawn building by building and hand-coloured, from the Library of Congress
Population 2010: 2,993 → 2020: 2,894
From Wikidata (CC0).
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.
During and after the Civil War, a dispute was ongoing regarding the county seat between Vera Cruz to the east and Arno to the west. In 1871, the citizens of Militia Springs built a court house building and moved the records there as a compromise. However, the building was burned and then rebuilt of hand hewn timbers rather than logs and re-opened in January 1873. The court house was burned again in 1886 and replaced in 1888. The current court house on the southeast corner of the town square was constructed in 1937.
In 1910 the Kansas City, Ozark and Southern Railroad was extended from Mansfield south to Ava to serve the growing agricultural and lumbering industries of Douglas County. The railroad remained in operation until 1935.
A city park, Militia Springs Park, was established in 2004 along Prairie Creek on North Spring Street. The location is the approximate site of the Civil War era military encampment. It has a play area and pavilion.
The Missouri Fox Trotter association was organized in Ava in 1948 and the annual shows are held at the association's property, just north of Ava.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Ava, Missouri, revision 1378481254 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Ava sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
1 free coloring page of Ava, each traced from a photo of a local landmark. Print them at home, at school or for story hour.
Ava's population was 2,894 in the 2020 U.S. Census, down from 2,993 in 2010.
Ava Ranger Station Historic District