Avon ( ) is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. It is south of Rochester. The town population was 6,939 at the 2020 census.

Mineral springs were an important resource of the early town. Beginning in the 1820s, people became interested in water as a therapy for all sorts of maladies, and mineral waters in particular for their reputed health benefits and even as cures. Avon, redolent in natural springs, soon became extremely popular with the afflicted. The wealthy, too, seeking relaxation and leisure, flocked to the town from far and wide. Numerous hotels and spas sprang up to take advantage of this fad, and bottling companies packaged the mineral water for sale. By the late 1890s to early 1900s, most of the hotels that had not closed due to the decline of the spa era had succumbed to fire or were soon razed. The Avon Inn is the only spa structure still standing in the town.

Points of historic interest in Avon include:

  • The Avon Five Arch Bridge, a remnant of a railroad bridge over the Conesus Outlet at Littleville. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
  • The Avon Inn, added to the National Register in 1991.
  • Charlton Farm, a residence designed by J. Foster Warner and now a bed and breakfast
  • Erie-Lackawanna Railroad bridge over the Genesee River, which connects Avon to the Genesee Valley Greenway, a rail trail.
  • First Presbyterian Church of Avon, constructed in 1812 and added to the National Register in 2005.

The north town line is the border of Monroe County. The Genesee River defines the west town line, flowing northward past Avon village. Conesus Creek, flowing from Conesus Lake, empties into the Genesee, west of Avon village.

U.S. Route 20 and New York State Route 5 are east-west highways across the town and intersect New York State Route 39 in Avon village. New York State Route 15 is another north-south highway in the eastern part of the town. Interstate 390 connects the town to areas north and south.

Adjacent towns and areas

(Clockwise)

  • Rush Image:North.svg
  • Lima Honeoye Falls Image:East.svg
  • Livonia; Geneseo Image:South.svg
  • York; Caledonia Image:West.svg

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Avon has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Avon was on July 5, 1911 and July 9, 1936, while the coldest temperature recorded was on February 9, 1934.

|source 2 = National Weather Service

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,443 people, 2,525 households, and 1,732 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 2,671 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.87% White, 1.54% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 2,525 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,971, and the median income for a family was $54,315. Males had a median income of $40,654 versus $25,559 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,379. About 6.2% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the town

thumb|150px|Historic [[First Presbyterian Church of Avon]]

  • Ashantee – A hamlet immediately south of Avon village on NY-39.
  • Avon – A village in the northwest part of the town.
  • East Avon – A hamlet (and census-designated place) in the eastern part of the town at the intersections of NY-5, NY-15, and US-20. The First Presbyterian Church of Avon was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
  • Jimmie Keenan (1899–1980), Major League Baseball player
  • Wilbur Murdoch (1875–1941), Major League Baseball player
  • Julia Ann Wilbur (1815–1895), abolitionist and suffragist
  • Ken O'Dea (1913–1985), Major League Baseball player
  • Leather Leone, Heavy metal musician

References

  • Avon Chamber of Commerce
  • Brief history of Avon