About This Place
Avoca is a borough within the Greater Pittston area of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, ten miles (16 km) northeast of Wilkes Barre and nine miles (15 km) southwest of Scranton. The population was 2,851 at the 2000 census. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) is located in Pittston Township located near Avoca.
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 suffered tragedy in 1888 when 37 inhabitants were killed in a train wreck known as the Mud Run Disaster. As is true of 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.
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).