Branson

Branson was named after Reuben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s. Branson was formally incorporated on April 1, 1912, and construction of the Powersite Dam nearby on the White River which would form Lake Taneycomo was completed. The collection of entertainment theaters along 76 Country Boulevard (and to a lesser extent along Shepherd of the Hills Expressway), including Dolly Parton's Stampede, has increased Branson's popularity as a tourist destination. In 1983, the 7,500-seat Swiss Villa Amphitheatre opened in Lampe, southwest of Branson. The outdoor amphitheater brought in acts like Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Steppenwolf, and Ozzy Osbourne. The Harold Bell Wright Museum is located within The World's Largest Toy Museum complex. The first theater in Branson opened in 1934 on Commercial Street, originally called "The Hillbilly Theater", which began to attract people from far and wide to tour the area. The Presley family became the first to move their show (Presleys' Country Jubilee) to Highway 76 in 1967, followed a year later by the Baldknobbers. Eventually Branson would have more than 50 theaters, most of them located on Highway 76. In the early 2000s, it reopened in 2010 as the Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater. Closing suddenly in 2013, it went unused until relaunching live music events in 2021.

History

In 1882, Reuben Branson opened a general store and post office in the area. Branson was formally incorporated on April 1, 1912, and construction of the Powersite Dam nearby on the White River which would form Lake Taneycomo was completed. Harold Bell Wright published his novel about the Ozarks, The Shepherd of the Hills, in 1907. The Old Mill Theater began its first outdoor production based on the novel in 1960. In 1959, the Mabe Brothers started a band that, in 1961, would become the first music show in Branson. In 1983, the 7,500-seat Swiss Villa Amphitheatre opened in Lampe, southwest of Branson, bringing in acts like Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Steppenwolf, and Ozzy Osbourne. In 1991, 76 Music Hall (now Grand Country Music Hall) became the first theater to have three shows performing in different time slots. The Glen Campbell Theatre opened in 1994, starring Jim Campbell along with his daughter Debbie Campbell, Matthew Dancers, and comedian Matthew Dickens. Andy Williams built his theater in 1991, opening it on May 1, 1992, calling it the Moon River Theatre. The following year, Bob Nichols opened the first morning star to star in a morning show, "Goodtime Band", starring his daughter along with Jim Campbell, Debbie Campbell and Matthew Dancer. In 1996, the first nationally known entertainer to have a permanent performance schedule, Boxcar Willie, opened his theater.

Attractions and events

Branson Landing opened in the summer of 2006 on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront in downtown Branson. Ripley's Odditorium is housed in a building that has been made to look as if it is cracked wide open by an earthquake or other disaster. The Titanic Museum is a half-scale replica of the famous ship and iceberg. Other local attractions include Aquarium at the Boardwalk, Beyond The Lens!, Hollywood Wax Museum Branson, Wonderworks, Silver Dollar City, White Water, and more. The Andy Williams Performing Arts Center and Theatre hosts annual shows year round, but most prominent are the Christmas shows hosted by The Osmonds and The Lennon Sisters.Due to Branson being known for family-oriented tourism, casino gambling is frowned upon and it does not exist in this area. However, Branson's neighboring cities do offer those types of entertainments for those who enjoy gambling. The Branson Scenic Railway is located in the old depot, across from Branson Landing. The convention center, situated between Branson landing and Historic Downtown Branson opened September 7, 2007. Branson is home to Mount Pleasant Winery, Dolly Parton's Stampede, ziplines, cave tours, go-karts, mini-golf, and other attractions. Branson has been known to host summer concerts and other special events throughout the year. It is also home to the World's Largest Elvis Presley Tribute Show, which is held every year in August.

Geography

Branson is located at 36°3816N 93°1518W (36.637706, -93.254965) The White River/Lake Taneycomo forms a bend on the east and southern side of the city. Branson has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with characteristics of a continental climate. The hardiness zone is 6b. The city has a total area of 20.80 square miles (53.87 km²) of which 20.63 square miles is land and 0.44 km² is water. It has a population of 2,816. The population of Branson in 2010 was 2,715. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population to be 2,081. The area is 20.87 square miles, or 53.43 km², with 0.17 sq miles (0.44 kms) of land. It is located in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, and is located on the Missouri River. The town is located near the junction of the White River and the Little White River, which forms the border between Kansas and Missouri. It also lies on the banks of the Red River, a tributary of the Little Red River that flows into the Mississippi River. Its population is 2,071, according to the U.N. World Meteorological Service. The climate is Cfa (Humid Subtropical Climate Zone 6b).

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,520 people, 4,688 households, and 2,695 families living in the city. The population density was 509.9 inhabitants per square mile (196.9/km²) The city is part of the Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Taney and Stone counties. The city's median income was $31,997, and the median income for a family was $43,145. The per capita income for the city was $20,461. 12.1% of the population and 9.7% of families were below the poverty line. The racial makeup of the city is 94.50% White, 0.84% African American, 0,86% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.,03% Pacific Islander, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.26%. The city has a population of 6,050 people, with 3,366 housing units at an average density of 208.1 per squaremile (80.3/ km²). The city’s median age is 41.2 years, with 20.3% of residents under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The gender make-up of the town is 47.9% male and 52.1%.

Education

Branson R-IV School District operates four elementary schools, Branson Jr. High School and Branson High School. The town has a lending library, the Taneyhills Community Library. Branson is located in the Ozarks and has a population of about 2,000 people. It is located on the Arkansas Turnpike, which runs through the town of Branson. The Turnpix is located near Branson's downtown area and is known as the "Town of the Turnpikes" The town is home to a number of small businesses, including a small number of restaurants and a small business incubator. It also has a public library, which has a branch in the town's main square. The Town has a history of being involved in the Civil War, which dates back to the 18th century. It was also the site of the Battle of the Bulge, which took place in 1864. It has also been the location of several other major battles, including the Battle for the Holy Land and the First World War, and has been home to the U.S. Air Force base since the mid-19th century, which was built in the early 1900s. The city is also the home of the American Civil Rights Movement, which began in the late 19th century and continues to be a focal point for the movement. It's also the birthplace of the First Lady of the United States, Abigail Adams, who was born in Branson and served as president of the NAACP.

Healthcare

Branson is served by the 165 bed full-service hospital and emergency department Cox Regional Medical Center and the Mercy Health System multi-specialty clinic. Branson is located on the banks of the Missouri River. The town has a population of about 2,000 people. It is located in the eastern part of the county and is located near the town of Branson, Missouri, and the city of Dyersville, Missouri.

Transportation

Branson is served primarily by Branson Airport, the closest commercial airport, which opened in May 2009. It is the largest privately owned commercial airport in the United States. The Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (MNA) is an important link between Kansas City, Missouri, and Newport, Arkansas. The MNA typically runs freight traffic at night, and its only current customers in the area are Royal Oak Charcoal at Gretna, the Branson Scenic Railway (BSR), Tyson Foods in Bergman, and Butterball in Yellville. Between these two airports, service is offered to cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Denver which allows connections to other cities. In 2020, Route 76 was rerouted onto the existing Ozark Mountain Highroad replacing Route 465. The old alignment now forms 76 Country Boulevard. Branson is located on the Missouri-Arkansas border and is located in the Ozark foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The town has a population of about 2,000 people, with most of its residents living in or near the town of Branson. The majority of the town is made up of white, middle-aged and elderly people. The city has a high percentage of white residents, with about 80% of the population living in the town center. It has a low percentage of black residents, at about 20%. The town is located near the Arkansas/Missouri state line, which is about 50 miles north of the state capital of Little Rock.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Branson, Taney County, Missouri = 85. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 100. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Branson = 4.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 8,849 individuals with a median age of 39.2 age the population grows by 18.46% in Branson, Taney County, Missouri population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 592.05 residents per square mile of area (228.59/km²). There are average 2.3 people per household in the 6,236 households with an average household income of $39,068 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.60% of the available work force and has dropped -6.84% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 17.72%. The number of physicians in Branson per 100,000 population = 185.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Branson = 42.2 inches and the annual snowfall = 8.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 89. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 211. 91 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 20.9 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 30, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Branson, Taney County, Missouri which are owned by the occupant = 46.66%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 17 years with median home cost = $144,240 and home appreciation of -5.60%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $5.76 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,881 per student. There are 12.7 students for each teacher in the school, 462 students for each Librarian and 387 students for each Counselor. 4.73% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 13.06% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 5.43% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).