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Branson, Missouri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Branson, Missouri | |
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| Nickname: The Live Entertainment Capital of the World | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Counties | Taney, Stone |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Raeanne Presley |
| Area | |
| - Total | 16.3 sq mi (42.3 km²) |
| - Land | 16.2 sq mi (41.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²) |
| Elevation | 778 ft (237 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 6,050 |
| - Density | 374/sq mi (144.4/km²) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 65615-65616 |
| Area code(s) | 417 |
| FIPS code | 29-07966GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0739970GR3 |
| The Live Entertainment Capital of the World | |
| Website: http://www.cityofbranson.org/ | |
Branson is a city in Taney County, Missouri, United States. It was named for Rueben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s. [1]Historically, Branson was a small city. Today it is sometimes referred to as a "Family-Friendly Las Vegas" because of the numerous shows and attractions, as well as the flashy building decorations and neon lights. The Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces Stone County, Missouri and Taney County, Missouri.
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In 1882 Rueben Branson opened a general store and post office.
In 1894 William Henry Lynch bought Marvel Cave outside of the town and began charging visitors to see it.
In 1907 Harold Bell Wright published The Shepherd of the Hills set in Branson. The story about life in the Ozarks and skirmishes with the vigilante Bald Knobbers was a national bestseller and tourists began visiting the city.
In 1912 Branson was formally incorporated and construction of the Powersite Dam nearby on the White River which would form Lake Taneycomo was completed.
In 1947 work began on Bull Shoals Lake on the White River.
In 1949 Hugo and Mary Herschend bought Marvel Cave and began hosting square dances in it. The same year Artist Steve Miller created an Nativity scene with some figures 28 feet high on Mount Branson overlooking Lake Taneycomo during Christmas. By 1953 the lighting of the scene was so popular that the Chamber of Commerce began hosting a parade.
In 1959 construction of Table Rock Dam began. The Baldknobbers Hillbilly Jamboree Show began. The first show is in the Branson City Hall with 50 folding chairs.[2]
In 1960 the the Herschends opened Silver Dollar City, an above ground attraction at Marvel Cave consisting of a recreated frontier town of five shops, a church, a log cabin with actors playing out the feud between Hatfields and McCoys. The Old Mill Theater began its first outdoor production of Shepard of the Hills. The Presley family began a music show in the Underground Theatre which would become Talking Rocks Cavern.
In 1963 Table Rock Dam on the White River was completed creating Table Rock Lake.
In 1967 the Presley family became the first to move the Highway 76 "strip" and would be joined on the strip in 1968 by the Baldknobbers. This would eventually grow to more than 52 theaters in the area -- most on the strip. The Presleys were to say later that if the new theater did not work out they "could use the building for boat storage."[3]
In 1983 Branson began its transformation into a major draw when the 7,500 seat Swiss Villa opened in Lampe, Missouri. A whole series of larger theatres opened within short order.
In 1987 Box Car Willie became the first entertainer with a permanent schedule in Branson.
Over the years Branson has grown to include more than 100 live shows in nearly 52 theaters; other tourist attractions include museums, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, year-round festivals and events, nearby mountains and wilderness areas.
Other local attractions include Celebration City, Dixie Stampede, White Water, an IMAX Theater, Big Cedar Lodge, Titanic Museum, Showboat Branson Belle, Chateau on the Lake, The Shepherd of the Hills, Stone Hill Winery, Ride The Ducks, Branson Landing, Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, the Tracks and Splash Country.
Famous celebrities in Branson have included Glen Campbell, Cristy Lane, Phyllis Diller, Roy Clark, Moe Bandy, Wayne Newton, Mel Tillis, Rich Little, Ann-Margaret, the Rockettes, Ray Stevens, Gladys Knight, Jim Stafford, Boxcar Willie, Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, Charlie Pride, Tony Orlando, Petula Clark, Mickey Gilley, Oak Ridge Boys, Yakov Smirnoff, Kenny Rogers, Charo, Pat Boone, Robert Goulet, Barbara, Louise and Irlene Mandrell, Johnny Cash, and The Osmonds. In the spring of 2006, the surviving members of the original Bill Haley & His Comets began a long-term residency at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater.
In 2006 the Titanic Museum joined nearly a dozen other area museums. The Titanic Museum includes artifacts from the actual wreck. Also on display are models of the ship, a full scale replica of the grand staircase and recreations of various rooms of the ship, in addition to eye-witness accounts of the events that occurred.
Another museum in Branson is the American Presidents Museum, one of only six similar museums in the nation, the American Presidents Museum showcases the lives and Presidency of those that have led the United States. The American Presidents Museum is under the direction of the National Center for Presidential Studies, a private non-profit educational organization. [2]
Branson Landing opened in the summer of 2006 on the Lake Taneycomo waterfront in downtown Branson. The lakefront project includes retail space with Bass Pro Shops and Hudson Belk as anchors in an outdoor shopping mall of 100+ stores and restaurants. "The Landing" as it is also known contains a boardwalk as well as a fountain that performs hydrotechnic shows every 15 minutes. Also, every hour on the hour, The Star-Spangled Banner, Moondance, or Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh is played. In addition the site also offers condominiums located above the retail space, and a Hilton hotel sits at the key entrance of it all. The new Branson Convention Center, which is situated between the Landing and Historic Downtown Branson, opened September 7th, 2007.
In June 2007, As the World Turns shot on location in Branson, venues included Silver Dollar City and the Moon River Theatre.
Developers are laying out plans for Pinnacle Falls to be located adjacent to Celebration City off of Highway 76. The first Phase, a $250 million dollar European-themed development, is planned to open in 2010 and will contain year-around attractions including an indoor water park, aquarium and themed restaurants and shopping.
Originally envisioned as a center for lumber shipment from the Ozark Mountains, the city began to develop tourism in the 1930s. Today, Branson is a major national destination in the United States with a well-known reputation for live music theaters. The city hosts three major amusement parks, as well as a diversified armada of live theaters that house everything from comedy and magic shows to variety music and dancing. Built along a portion of Highway 76 nicknamed "The Strip" because of its Las-Vegas-style roadside neon signs, Branson has built its reputation as the family-friendly version of its Nevada counterpart.
A quote from The Simpsons goes as far as Bart saying "My dad says it’s like Vegas — if it were run by Ned Flanders".
As of the 2000 censusGR2, there were 6,050 people, 2,701 households, and 1,661 families residing in the city. The population density was 374.0 people per square mile (144.4/km²). There were 3,366 housing units at an average density of 208.1/sq mi (80.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.50% White, 0.84% African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.47% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. 4.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 2,701 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.76. In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,997, and the median income for a family was $43,145. Males had a median income of $31,769 versus $21,223 for females. 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. 15.6% of those under the age of 18 and 17.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
- Branson, Missouri is at coordinates Coordinates: