Avon

River in southern England; length 154 km/96 mi. It rises in the Northamptonshire uplands near Naseby and flows southwest through Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Evesham, before joining the River Severn near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Avon

Former county of southwest England, formed in 1974 from the city and county of Bristol and parts of northeast Somerset and southwest Gloucestershire. It was abolished in 1996 when the unitary authorities of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire were created.

Avon

Town in Hartford County, north-central Connecticut, USA; population (1990) 13,900. It is located on the Farmington River, 16 km/10 mi west of Hartford. An affluent suburb, it has an active advertising and financial sector, and some light manufacturing plants. It is home Avon Old Farms School.

Avon

Town in Norfolk County, east Massachusetts, USA; population (1998 est) 4,600. It is located 6 km/4 mi north of Brockton, of which it is a residential suburb. There is an industrial park, but Avon is largely a commuter area.

Avon

Town in Bon Homme County, southeast South Dakota, USA; population (1990) 600. It is situated 52 km/32 mi northwest of Yankton, in an area in which dairy products, livestock, poultry, corn, and wheat are produced. Avon is the birthplace (1922) of politician George McGovern.