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Branson, Missouri

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Branson is a city located in Taney County, Missouri. It was named for Rueben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s. [1] As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,050. Originally envisioned as a center for lumber shipment, the city began to develop tourism in the 1930s. Today, Branson is a nationally popular tourist destination, famous for its many live music theaters, clubs and family friendly attractions, primarily involving Country and Bluegrass Music.

Geography

Branson is located at 36°38'16" North, 93°15'18" West (36.637706, -93.254965)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.3 km² (16.3 mi²). 41.9 km² (16.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.98% water.

Branson is located on the shore of Lake Taneycomo and is also close to Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals Lake. All three lakes are formed by dams along the White River.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,050 people, 2,701 households, and 1,661 families residing in the city. The population density was 144.4/km² (374.0/mi²). There were 3,366 housing units at an average density of 80.3/km² (208.1/mi²). 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.

Entertainment and vacation destination

Author, painter, and pastor Harold Bell Wright began visiting the area in 1898 and used it for the setting in his book The Shepherd of the Hills. Following publication in 1907 of The Shepherd of the Hills, locals began to see the first tourists longing to experience the scenic Ozarks as Wright had. In addition to the area's rolling hills and the nearby lakes that Branson affords access to, another early attraction was Marvel Cave (then known as Marble Cave). In the late 1950s the first two country music shows, The Baldknobbers and Presleys' Country Jubilee appeared along Branson's main thoroughfare, Highway 76.

Today, Branson has numerous museums, tourist attractions, over 100 shows, over 200 lodging choices, over 400 restaurants, 49 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 10 championship golf courses, dozens of festivals and events throughout the year, nearby mountains, and wilderness areas.

Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, Mickey Gilley, Dixie Stampede, White Water Branson, Showboat Branson Belle, Branson's American Star, Stone Hill Winery, Ride The Ducks, The Tracks, and Splash Country are favorites.

Branson's tourism boom in the 1980's is mostly attributed to the arrival of several mainsteam country stars such as Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Ray Stevens, Jim Stafford and Boxcar Willie as well as the growth of the Kanakuk Camps.

In addition, Yakov Smirnoff and other stars can be enjoyed here.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas (another popular tourist destination featuring the Great Passion Play and the Christ of the Ozarks statue) is located nearby.

Lampoon

Acerbic comedian Dennis Miller once described Branson as "Las Vegas for people without teeth". (And also, presumably, without a gambling habit.)

In one episode of The Simpsons, Bart Simpson describes Branson as "Las Vegas... if it were run by Ned Flanders". In another episode, when the Simpsons family tried to find their grandfather in Branson, they accidentally wound up in Bronson, Missouri, where every man, woman and child looked and sounded exactly like Charles Bronson.

In an episode of the sitcom Becker, the character Bob refers to Branson as being "like Dollywood, but without the class..."

The city receives a much kinder portrayal, however, in Donald Westlake's novel Baby, Would I Lie?

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