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Branson is a city in Stone and Taney counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named for Rueben Branson, postmaster and operator of a general store in the area in the 1880s.^[3] Branson is a popular destination for vacationers from Missouri and the surrounding states. The population was 6,050 at the 2000 census. The Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces Stone and Taney counties.

 History

In 1882, Rueben Branson opened a general store and post office in the area. Branson was formally incorporated in 1912 and construction of the Powersite Dam nearby on the White River which would form Lake Taneycomo was completed.

In 1894 William Henry Lynch had bought Marvel Cave and had begun charging visitors to see it. Hugo and Mary Herschend bought the cave in 1950 and began hosting square dances in it. The Herschend Family modernized the cave with electricity and cement staircases, and in 1960, the Herschends opened Silver Dollar City which was a recreated frontier town of five shops and a church, and it featured a log cabin with actors playing out the feud between Hatfields and McCoys.

Harold Bell Wright had 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. The show still runs today. His museum, Harold Bell Wight Museumis presented as world's largest toy museum.

1958 saw the completion of Table Rock Dam on the White River, which created Table Rock Lake.

The Presley family became the first to move their show to Highway 76 in 1967 (which would become known as the "strip"), followed a year later by the Baldknobbers. This area would eventually grow to more than 50 theaters – most of them located on Highway 76.

In the early 1980s the Starlite Theater (not to be confused with the current theater by the same name) was one of the first to introduce stage sets, horn section, elaborate costume changes, and music outside of the traditional country music normally played. It helped to launch the careers of Shoji Tabuchi, Doug Gabriel, and many others.^[4]

In 1983 Branson began its transformation into a major tourist attraction when the 7,500 seat Swiss Villa Amphitheatre opened in Lampe, Missouri. The theatre, which was later renamed the Black Oak Mountain Amphitheatre before ultimately closing in the early 2000s, proved there was a market for large music gatherings. Ironically, it started out as a venue for rock bands Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Steppenwolf, and Ozzy Osbourne.^[5]

Also in 1983, Roy Clark opened the Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre, becoming the first famous country music star to have his own venue in Branson. Many of the performers who have played in Branson got their start at that venue.

A series of larger theatres opened soon thereafter. In 1987, Box Car Willie became the first entertainer with a permanent schedule in Branson.

In 2007, ground was broken for the $155 million Branson Airport on land formerly belonging to Tennessee Ernie Ford. Scheduled to open in May 2009, it is claimed that it will be the largest privately-owned commercial airport in the United States. The construction which involved flattening several Ozark mountains is said to be the largest earth moving project in Missouri history. Currently the closest commercial airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport 50 miles northwest of Branson, and is owned by the City of Springfield.

Theaters

Branson is home to more than fifty theaters, featuring over 100 shows and productions.

• Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, a famous musician's theater.
• Americana Theatre, a female Bransonian's theater.
• Baldknobbers Country Jubilee, a country music theater.
• Bart Rockett Theater, a magician, comedian's theater
• Branson Mall Music Theater, Branson shopping mall's music theater.
• Branson Showcase Theater, Branson's another theater.
• Branson Star Theatre, Branson's music theater.
• Branson Variety Theatre, a show theater.
• Cabaret Theatre, a theater for cabaret shows.
• Caravelle Theatre, a home to the legendary Branson tribute shows.
• Circle B Chuckwagon Theater, a western-country music theater.
• Clay Cooper Theatre, a country musician's theater.
• Country Tonight Theatre, a theater for night music shows.
• Dick Clark's American Bandstand, famous 1950 theater.
• Dixie Stampede, one of Dolly Parton's theaters.
• Dutton Family Theatre, a family music theater.
• Grand Country Music Hall, water resort music hall.
• Hamner Barber Theatre, a country music/comedy theater.
• Hughes American Family Theatre, world's largest music family's theater.
• Imax Complex and Little Opry, a movie and music show theater.
• Jim Stafford Theater, a musician's theater.
• Kirby Van Burch Theater, a magician's theater.
• Mansion America Theater, a theater for Enteratiment shows.
• Mickey Gilley Theatre a country musician's theater.
• Moe Bandy Theatre, a country musician's theater.
• Music City Centre, a music theater.
• New Shanghai Circus Theatre, Chinese acrobats' theater.
• God & Country Theatre, a music theater.
• Oak Ridge Boys Theatre, a famous band's theater.
• Osmond Family Theatre, a famous music family's theater.
• Owen's Theatre, the impersonations' theater.
• Pierce Arrow Theatre, musicians and comedians' theater.
• Presely's Country Jubilee, a country family music theater.
• Remington Theatre, a home to the Branson City All Star Review.
• Roy Clark Celebrity Theatre, famous country musician's theatre.
• Shake It Up Showclub, a country music theater.
• The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre, Outdoor theater of The Shepherd of the Hills.
• Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, Japanese theater.
• Sight & Sound Theatre, Christian music/show theater.
• Starlite Theatre, the music impressonations' theater.
• Tall Timber Lumberjack Theatre, a theater for lumbjack shows.
• Tri-Lakes Center, a stage theater.
• The Welk Theatre at the Welk Resort, a theater in a resort.
• Will Rogers Theatre, a country-western theater.
• Yakov Smirnoff Theatre, Russian comedian's theater.

 Museums

Branson also is home to more than ten museums including world's largest museums.

• Dick Clark's AB Theater car museum, car museum in Dick Clark AB Theater.
• American Presidents Museum, one of six similar U.S. Presidents museums in the nation.
• Branson Dinosaur Museum, a museum displays about the dinosaurs.
• Branson Entertainment Hall of Fame & Museum.
• Harold Bell Wright Museum, a museum is about Harold Bell Wright and toy collection.
• Hollywood Wax Museum, one of Hollywood Wax Museums.
• Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, one of Ripley's Believe It or Not! museums.
• Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, Roy Rogers-Dale Evans, TV western stars museum.
• Tall Timber Lumberjack, a lumbjack museum.
• The Titanic Museum, world's largest Titanic museum.
• Veterans Memorial Museum honors the veterans.
• World's Largest Antique Toy Museum.

 Other attractions

Branson is also the home for two water places, two animal places, three lakes and twelve championship golf courses. Other local attractions include Silver Dollar City, White Water, Waltzing Waters, Mount Pleasant Winery, Stone Hill Winery, Ride The Ducks, The Haunted House and Monster Asylum, Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, Wings of the World (bird zoo), and the Branson Landing.

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 stores and restaurants. The new Branson Convention Center, which is situated between the Landing and Historic Downtown Branson, opened September 7, 2007. Two animal places are Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, a palace of filled thousands of flying butterflies in a mystical rainforest maze and Wings of the World, a home of world birds.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census^[1], 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.26% of the population.

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.

List of Entertainers Associated with Branson

 Notes

 External links

• Branson Chamber of Commerce
• City of Branson
• the Official Branson Website
• Branson TV Station

• Branson, Missouri is at coordinates 36°38′16″N 93°15′18″W/36.637706°N 93.254965°W