Ava is the only incorporated city in Douglas County, Missouri, United States.

The lakes of the White River basin of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri lie to the south.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.30 square miles (8.55 km2), all land.

[10] 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.

[11] The current court house on the southeast corner of the town square was constructed in 1937.

[11] 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 location is the approximate site of the Civil War era military encampment.

35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.