Branson is a city in the state of Missouri, USA. Most of it is in Taney County. A small part is in Stone County. Branson is located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. The city got its name from Reuben Branson. He was a postmaster and ran a general store in the 1880s. In 2020, about 12,638 people lived there.

Branson is a very popular place for vacations. People come from all over the country to visit. Many entertainment theaters are found along 76 Country Boulevard. These theaters have made Branson famous. Dolly Parton's Stampede is one of the well-known shows. Branson is also home to the Branson Cross. This is the largest crucifix monument in North America.

Branson's History: From Small Town to Tourist Hotspot

In 1882, Reuben Branson opened a store and post office. Branson officially became a city on April 1, 1912. Around this time, the Powersite Dam was built. This dam created Lake Taneycomo on the White River.

Marvel Cave and Silver Dollar City

In 1894, William Henry Lynch bought a cave called Marble Cave. He started charging people to explore it. Later, it was renamed "Marvel Cave." In 1950, Hugo and Mary Herschend leased the cave. They began holding square dances inside.

The Herschend family made the cave modern. They added electricity and concrete stairs. In 1960, they opened Silver Dollar City. This was a fun re-creation of a frontier town. It had shops, a church, and a log cabin. Actors would even perform a play about the Hatfields and McCoys.

How Branson Became a Cultural Attraction

In 1907, Harold Bell Wright wrote a novel about the Ozarks. It was called The Shepherd of the Hills. This book became a huge success worldwide. It made Wright a millionaire author. The novel also made Branson a popular place for tourists.

In 1960, an outdoor play based on the novel began. It is called The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama. This show has been running for over 60 years! The historic farm also has Inspiration Tower. It is home to the Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park.

The Harold Bell Wright Museum is part of The World's Largest Toy Museum. Jim Owen, who was mayor for 12 years, built the first theater in 1934. It was called "The Hillbilly Theater." This theater brought many people to the area.

In 1959, the Table Rock Dam was finished. This created Table Rock Lake. Also in 1959, the Mabe Brothers started a band. In 1961, they became Branson's first music show. They were known as the Baldknobber Hillbilly Jamboree.

In 1962, Paul Henning created The Beverly Hillbillies. This TV show was inspired by his camping trips to the Ozarks. Henning later gave land for a conservation area near Branson. He also donated the old truck from the show. It is now at the Ralph Foster Museum.

The Presley family was the first to move their show to Highway 76 in 1967. The Baldknobbers followed a year later. Soon, Branson had over 50 theaters. Most of them were on Highway 76.

In 1987, Boxcar Willie became the first famous entertainer to buy a theater in Branson. He had a regular show there.

Many stars opened their own theaters in 1990-1991. These included Shoji Tabuchi, Mel Tillis, Jim Stafford, Ray Stevens, Mickey Gilley, and Moe Bandy. Local shows also had theaters. 76 Music Hall became the first theater to have three different shows a day. In 1991, Bob Nichols started the first morning show. The next year, Buck Trent became the first famous star to have a morning show.

Branson's growing number of theaters caught the eye of 60 Minutes. In 1991, they called Branson the "live music capital of the entire universe."

Andy Williams opened his Moon River Theatre in Branson in 1992. The Glen Campbell Goodtime Theatre opened in 1994. Other stars like Tony Orlando and Bobby Vinton also opened theaters. In 1998, the Acrobats of China came to Branson. They were one of the first international shows. In 2006, Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theatre opened. Branson continues to add new shows and theaters. It calls itself "the live music show capital of the world."

2012 Tornado Event

On February 29, 2012, a tornado hit Branson. It caused damage to some parts of the city. Many people had minor injuries. Most tourist spots and businesses were not harmed. They stayed open after the storm.

The tornado traveled about 22 miles. It went across Table Rock Lake. It also went along the entertainment strip, 76 Country Boulevard. Some theaters were damaged. Parts of Branson Landing were also affected. Most of the damage was fixed quickly.

Entertainment and Performing Arts

Branson is well-known for its many entertainment theaters. These theaters host shows with music, dance, magic, and more.

Attractions and Fun Things to Do

Hollywood Wax Museum - Branson MO

The Titanic Museum.

Branson has many fun attractions for visitors. You can visit the Aquarium at the Boardwalk. There is also Beyond The Lens! and the Hollywood Wax Museum Branson. Other popular spots include Wonderworks and Silver Dollar City. You can also enjoy White Water park.

Other activities include:

Ripley's Super Fun Zone
Mount Pleasant Winery
Dolly Parton's Stampede
Helicopter rides and ziplines
Cave tours
Go-karts and mini golf

The Ripley's Odditorium looks like it's cracked open by an earthquake. The Titanic Museum is a half-size copy of the famous ship.

Dick's 5 & 10, a gift and souvenir shop

Branson Landing opened in 2006. It is on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront. This area has shops and restaurants. Bass Pro Shops and Belk are two main stores. It also has a nice boardwalk along the lake. The Branson Landing Fountains are a popular feature. A Hilton Hotel is also located there. Branson Landing often hosts concerts and special events.

The convention center is near Branson Landing. It opened in 2007. The Branson Scenic Railway is also in this area. It operates from the old train depot.

Branson is known for family-friendly tourism. Because of this, you won't find casino gambling here. However, nearby cities do offer gambling options.

Branson also has a large ferris wheel. It was moved from Chicago's Navy Pier in 2016. From 150 feet up, it gives great views of the Ozarks.

Branson's Location and Climate

Branson is located at 36°38′16″N 93°15′18″W / 36.63778°N 93.25500°W / 36.63778; -93.25500. The White River and Lake Taneycomo curve around the east and south sides of the city.

The city covers about 20.80 square miles. Most of this area is land. A small part is water.

Branson's Climate

Branson has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters. The area is in hardiness zone 7a.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	598	—
1930	958	60.2%
1940	1,011	5.5%
1950	1,314	30.0%
1960	1,887	43.6%
1970	2,175	15.3%
1980	2,550	17.2%
1990	3,706	45.3%
2000	6,050	63.2%
2010	10,520	73.9%
2020	12,638	20.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

The Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Taney County.

Population in 2020

In 2020, Branson had 12,638 people. There were 4,857 households. About 2,809 of these were families. The population density was about 592 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Branson were White (80.57%). Other groups included Black or African-American (2.46%), Native American (0.9%), and Asian (2.68%). About 10.66% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 19.3% of the people were under 18 years old. About 20.3% were 65 or older. The average age in Branson was 38.9 years.

Education in Branson

The Branson R-IV School District runs four elementary schools. It also has Branson Jr. High School and Branson High School. The city has a public library called the Taneyhills Community Library.

Famous People from Branson

Kim Boyce, gospel singer
Barbara Fairchild, country and gospel singer
Dino Kartsonakis, pianist
Duane Laflin, magician
The Lennon Sisters, singers
Tony Orlando, popular music singer
The Petersens, bluegrass family band
Raeanne Presley, former mayor
Yakov Smirnoff, comedian
Jim Stafford, comedian and singer
Ray Stevens, country/pop singer
Shoji Tabuchi, country music fiddler
Andy Williams, popular music singer
Barry Williams, singer and actor
Boxcar Willie, country music singer
Hughes Family, family music group

Media in Branson

Branson Tri-Lakes News – This is a newspaper published twice a week. It has been around for over 100 years.

Healthcare Services

Branson has a 165-bed hospital called Cox Regional Medical Center. It offers full hospital services and an emergency room. There is also a Mercy Health System clinic with many different doctors.

Getting Around Branson

Highways

U.S. Route 65 goes north and south. It connects Branson to Springfield in the north. It also goes to Little Rock in the south. Missouri Route 76 used to go through Branson. In 2020, it was moved to a new road. The old road is now called 76 Country Boulevard.

Air Travel

Branson has its own airport, Branson Airport. It opened in 2009. It is the largest privately owned commercial airport in the United States. It has had flights from airlines like AirTran and Frontier.

The two closest major airports are:

Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) in Springfield, Missouri. It is about 52 miles from Branson.
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is about 96 miles from Branson.

These airports offer flights to many big cities.

M. Graham Clark Field is a smaller airport in Branson. It is mainly for private planes.

Train Travel

Branson is served by the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA). This railroad connects Kansas City, Missouri, and Newport, Arkansas. The Branson Scenic Railway offers sightseeing train rides. These trains use the same tracks. The tracks were built in the early 1900s.

Images for kids

Aerial view of Branson from the northwest
Flag of Branson, Missouri

Branson, Missouri facts for kids

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