but has slowly declined over the decades. The population listed in the 1880 census was 871 with 174 housing units. Twenty years later the population was 814 with 161 housing units. The estimated population in 2016 was 387. Cemeteries Avoca Cemetery, across the creek from the village of Avoca, was laid out in 1832 by William McDowell. Susan Phillips was the first person to be buried there, the interment taking place in 1833. William and Sarah McDowell, the early influential pioneers, are also buried there. Patty Cemetery lies along the northern border of Avoca Township with Owego Township. Many of the early founding families of both Avoca and Owego Townships lie there. Communities Avoca McDowell Lodemia Champlin Points of Interest Fugate Woods Nature Reserve Notes References Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Livingston County, Edited by Newton Bateman, Paul Selby, Christopher C. Strawn, Fordyce B. Johnson and George H. Franzen; Munsell Publishing Company, Chicago, 1909 The History of Livingston County, Illinois, Illustrated; Published by Wm. Le Baron, Jr., & Co., Chicago, 1878 A History of Livingston County, Illinois; Compiled by the Livingston County History Project; Printed and Published by Curtis Media Corporation, 1991 1880 Federal Census for Avoca Township, Livingston County, Illinois. 1900 Federal Census for Avoca Township, Livingston County, Illinois. The Livingston County Business Directory, Published by Charles A. Stuck, Odell, Illinois, 1898 Land Atlas & Plat Book, Livingston County, Illinois, 2010, Compiled and Published by Rockford Map Publishers External links US Census City-data.com Illinois State Archives Townships in Livingston County, Illinois Populated places established in 1857 Townships in Illinois 1857 establishments in Illinois