Taney County | |
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![]() The Taney County Courthouse in Forsyth | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Missouri | |
![]() Missouri's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 36°39′N93°02′W / 36.65°N 93.04°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | January 4, 1837 |
Named for | Roger B. Taney |
Seat | Forsyth |
Largest city | Branson |
Area | |
• Total | 652 sq mi (1,690 km2) |
• Land | 632 sq mi (1,640 km2) |
• Water | 19 sq mi (50 km2) 2.9% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 56,066 |
• Density | 86/sq mi (33/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 7th |
Website | www |
Taney County is a county in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 56,066. [1] Its county seat is Forsyth. [2] It is included in the Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Taney County was officially organized on January 4, 1837, and named in honor of Roger Brooke Taney, the fifth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, best known for delivering the infamous majority opinion in Dred Scott v. Sandford. However, unlike Roger B. Taney, who pronounced his name /ˈtɔːni/, the "Taney" in Taney County is generally pronounced /ˈteɪni/.
The county includes the popular tourist destinations Branson and Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals lakes.
The first Taney County Courthouse was built on the mouth of Bull Creek at the confluence of the White River by early pioneers in 1837. Its use as a courthouse ended after Forsyth became the county seat; it was destroyed in a tornado in 1963.
The county's second courthouse, in Forsyth, was destroyed in a Civil War battle on July 22, 1861. The rebuilt courthouse was destroyed by fire on December 19, 1885. A third courthouse was removed in 1952 to permit the building of Bull Shoals Lake. The fourth, and present, courthouse was occupied on August 1, 1952. An addition was completed in 1991 after two years of construction.
In 1904, the White River Railway was extended through the rugged terrain of Stone and Taney counties. By then, both counties had for years had a sundown town policy, forbidding African Americans to live there. [3]
In 2008, a New Taney County Judicial Center was built. That Judicial Center houses the courtrooms, the Circuit Clerk, and the County Jail. [4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 652 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (2.9%) is water. [5]
The county is drained by White River and its affluents. [6]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 3,264 | — | |
1850 | 4,373 | 34.0% | |
1860 | 3,576 | −18.2% | |
1870 | 4,347 | 21.6% | |
1880 | 5,599 | 28.8% | |
1890 | 7,973 | 42.4% | |
1900 | 10,812 | 35.6% | |
1910 | 9,287 | −14.1% | |
1920 | 8,878 | −4.4% | |
1930 | 8,867 | −0.1% | |
1940 | 10,323 | 16.4% | |
1950 | 9,863 | −4.5% | |
1960 | 10,238 | 3.8% | |
1970 | 13,023 | 27.2% | |
1980 | 20,467 | 57.2% | |
1990 | 25,561 | 24.9% | |
2000 | 39,703 | 55.3% | |
2010 | 51,675 | 30.2% | |
2020 | 56,066 | 8.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2015 [11] |
As of the census [12] of 2000, there were 39,703 people, 16,158 households, and 11,052 families residing in the county. The population density was 24/km2 (62/sq mi). There were 19,688 housing units at an average density of 12/km2 (31/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 96.22% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. About 2.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Taney County were 20.8% German, 18.9% American, 12.4% Irish, and 12.3% English.
There were 16,158 households, out of which 27.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 10.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,771, and the median income for a family was $47,664. Males had a median income of $25,431 versus $19,655 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,663. About 9.40% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Taney County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Taney County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (32.88%), Roman Catholics (12.36%), and Presbyterians (9.13%).
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 46,468 | 83% |
Black or African American (NH) | 837 | 1.5% |
Native American (NH) | 407 | 0.73% |
Asian (NH) | 608 | 1.1% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 187 | 0.33% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 3,230 | 5.76% |
Hispanic or Latino | 4,239 | 7.56% |
The Taney County Ambulance District (TCAD) is an emergency medical services (EMS) agency providing exclusive ambulance transport for Taney County, Missouri. TCAD was established by public vote in 1971. [14] [15]
The Taney County Sheriff's Office and its jail are in Forsyth, which also has a police department.
Firefighting services are provided by Central Taney County Fire Protection District and Western Taney County Fire Protection District.
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Taney County, 81.4% possess a high school diploma or higher while 14.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
As of 2020, the Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Taney County. Republicans hold every elected position in the county. However, the Democratic Party previously controlled politics at the local level during the late 19th century and much of the first half of the 20th century.
Taney County, Missouri | |||
---|---|---|---|
Elected countywide officials | |||
Assessor | Susan Chapman | Republican | |
Auditor | David Clark | Republican | |
Circuit Clerk | Amy Strahan | Republican | |
County Clerk | Donna Neeley | Republican | |
Collector | Mona Cope | Republican | |
Commissioner (Presiding) | Nick Plummer | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 1) | Brandon Williams | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 2) | Sheila L. Wyatt | Republican | |
Coroner | Kevin Tweedy | Republican | |
Prosecuting Attorney | William Duston | Republican | |
Public Administrator | Carol S. Davis | Republican | |
Recorder | Robert A. Dixon | Republican | |
Sheriff | Brad Daniels | Republican | |
Treasurer | Melanie Smith | Republican |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 77.32%20,221 | 20.35% 5,323 | 2.33% 609 |
2016 | 71.03%16,579 | 25.67% 5,992 | 3.30% 770 |
2012 | 59.56%12,761 | 37.67% 8,071 | 2.77% 593 |
2008 | 51.16%10,903 | 46.31% 9,870 | 2.53% 540 |
2004 | 68.88%13,207 | 29.91% 5,734 | 1.21% 233 |
2000 | 60.03%9,003 | 37.30% 5,594 | 2.67% 400 |
1996 | 58.07%7,516 | 38.89% 5,034 | 3.04% 394 |
Taney County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Don Phillips | 559 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Don Phillips | 298 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Don Phillips | 556 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lyle Rowland | 5,280 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lyle Rowland | 2,586 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Lyle Rowland | 4,929 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jeffery Justus | 14,635 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jeffery Justus | 6,492 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jeffery Justus | 13,072 | 100.00% | ||
All of Taney County is a part of Missouri's 29th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by David Sater (R-Cassville).
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Sater | 19,825 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Sater | 18,209 | 100.00% | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Roy Blunt | 16,117 | 69.00% | +12.93 | |
Democratic | Jason Kander | 6,143 | 26.30% | −10.49 | |
Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 609 | 2.61% | −4.53 | |
Green | Johnathan McFarland | 262 | 1.12% | +1.12 | |
Constitution | Fred Ryman | 226 | 0.97% | +0.97 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Todd Akin | 11,940 | 56.07% | ||
Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 7,834 | 36.79% | ||
Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 1,520 | 7.14% | ||
All of Taney County is in Missouri's 7th Congressional District represented by Billy Long (R-Springfield) in the United States House of Representatives.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Billy Long | 17,569 | 76.16% | +2.99 | |
Democratic | Genevieve Williams | 4,664 | 20.22% | −1.15 | |
Libertarian | Benjamin T. Brixey | 836 | 3.62% | −1.84 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Billy Long | 7,709 | 73.17% | +2.55 | |
Democratic | Jim Evans | 2,251 | 21.37% | −3.37 | |
Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 575 | 5.46% | +0.82 | |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Billy Long | 14,841 | 70.62% | ||
Democratic | Jim Evans | 5,199 | 24.74% | ||
Libertarian | Kevin Craig | 975 | 4.64% | ||
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 20,508 | 77.86% | 5,339 | 20.27% | 491 | 1.86% |
2016 | 18,276 | 77.20% | 4,373 | 18.47% | 1,024 | 4.33% |
2012 | 15,746 | 72.44% | 5,479 | 25.20% | 513 | 2.36% |
2008 | 14,736 | 67.78% | 6,683 | 30.74% | 322 | 1.48% |
2004 | 13,578 | 70.43% | 5,601 | 29.05% | 101 | 0.52% |
2000 | 9,647 | 63.84% | 5,092 | 33.70% | 373 | 2.47% |
1996 | 6,844 | 52.01% | 4,623 | 35.13% | 1,693 | 12.86% |
1992 | 6,081 | 46.05% | 4,682 | 35.46% | 2,442 | 18.49% |
1988 | 7,043 | 64.16% | 3,888 | 35.42% | 46 | 0.42% |
1984 | 7,082 | 70.86% | 2,912 | 29.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 6,230 | 63.22% | 3,389 | 34.39% | 235 | 2.38% |
1976 | 4,696 | 56.28% | 3,626 | 43.46% | 22 | 0.26% |
1972 | 4,982 | 77.64% | 1,435 | 22.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 3,289 | 66.82% | 1,219 | 24.77% | 414 | 8.41% |
1964 | 2,741 | 51.86% | 2,544 | 48.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 3,692 | 71.95% | 1,439 | 28.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 3,218 | 68.54% | 1,477 | 31.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 3,037 | 73.22% | 1,099 | 26.49% | 12 | 0.29% |
1948 | 2,361 | 62.18% | 1,427 | 37.58% | 9 | 0.24% |
1944 | 2,499 | 72.56% | 936 | 27.18% | 9 | 0.26% |
1940 | 3,167 | 67.61% | 1,497 | 31.96% | 20 | 0.43% |
1936 | 2,827 | 62.00% | 1,710 | 37.50% | 23 | 0.50% |
1932 | 2,045 | 51.29% | 1,911 | 47.93% | 31 | 0.78% |
1928 | 2,319 | 70.23% | 971 | 29.41% | 12 | 0.36% |
1924 | 1,710 | 61.49% | 981 | 35.28% | 90 | 3.24% |
1920 | 2,001 | 67.69% | 913 | 30.89% | 42 | 1.42% |
1916 | 1,123 | 60.87% | 679 | 36.80% | 43 | 2.33% |
1912 | 852 | 47.78% | 588 | 32.98% | 343 | 19.24% |
1908 | 1,080 | 61.12% | 628 | 35.54% | 59 | 3.34% |
1904 | 1,162 | 64.34% | 568 | 31.45% | 76 | 4.21% |
1900 | 1,137 | 59.16% | 753 | 39.18% | 32 | 1.66% |
1896 | 1,024 | 52.35% | 925 | 47.29% | 7 | 0.36% |
1892 | 791 | 59.30% | 459 | 34.41% | 84 | 6.30% |
1888 | 827 | 59.03% | 471 | 33.62% | 103 | 7.35% |
Taney County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. George W. Bush carried Taney County in 2000 and 2004 by more than two-to-one margins. Taney County strongly favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008. The last time the Republican Party failed to carry Taney County was in 1860. [19]
Like most rural areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Taney County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. It passed Taney County with 80.04 percent of the vote, and the state in general with 71 percent of support from voters, making Missouri the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Taney County with 56.64 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Taney County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Taney County with 77.78 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
In the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Taney County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally.
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) received more votes, a total of 3,850, than any candidate from either party in Taney County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Wright County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,188. Its county seat is Hartville. The county was officially organized on January 29, 1841, and is named after Silas Wright, a former Congressman, U.S. Senator and Governor of New York.
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,085. Its county seat is Marshfield. The county was organized in 1855 and named for U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster.
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Texas County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,487. Its county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County. Its name was changed in 1845 to Texas County, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S. Census indicates that the county was the center of population for the United States.
Stone County is located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,076. Its county seat is Galena.
Ripley County is a county in the Ozarks of Missouri. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 10,679. The largest city and county seat is Doniphan. The county was officially organized on January 5, 1833, and is named after Brigadier General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, a soldier who served with distinction in the War of 1812.
Reynolds County is a county located in the Ozark Foothills Region in the Lead Belt of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,096. Its county seat is Centerville. The county was officially organized on February 25, 1845, and was named in honor of former Governor of Missouri Thomas Reynolds.
Phelps County is a county in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 44,638. The largest city and county seat is Rolla. The county was organized on November 13, 1857, and was named for U.S. Representative and Governor of Missouri John Smith Phelps.
Ozark County is a county in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,553. The largest city and county seat is Gainesville. The county was organized as Ozark County, named after the Ozark Mountains, on January 29, 1841. It was renamed Decatur County, after Commodore Stephen Decatur, from 1843 to 1845, after which the name Ozark County was restored.
Jefferson County is located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 226,739, making it the sixth-most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was organized in 1818 and named in honor of former president Thomas Jefferson.
Howell County is in southern Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,750. The largest city and county seat is West Plains. The county was officially organized on March 2, 1851, and is named after Josiah Howell, a pioneer settler in the Howell Valley.
Greene County is located in the southwest part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 298,915. making it the fourth most-populous county in Missouri.
Douglas County is a county located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,578. The county seat and only incorporated community is Ava. The county was officially organized on October 19, 1857, and is named after U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas (D-Illinois) and later Democratic presidential candidate.
Dent County is a county in Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,421. The largest city and county seat is Salem. The county was officially organized on February 10, 1851, and is named after state representative Lewis Dent, a pioneer settler who arrived in Missouri from Virginia in 1835.
Christian County is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 88,842. Its county seat is Ozark. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after Christian County, Kentucky, which in turn is named for William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the American Revolutionary War.
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 42,745. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized on January 29, 1841, as Kinderhook County and renamed Camden County in 1843 after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom and leader of the British Whig Party. Camden County is also the primary setting of the Netflix show Ozark.
Barry County is a county located in the southwest portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 34,534. Its county seat is Cassville. The county was organized in 1835 and named after William Taylor Barry, a U.S. Postmaster General from Kentucky. The town of Barry, also named after the postmaster-general, was located just north of Kansas City, not in Barry County.
Taneyville is a village in Taney County, Missouri, United States. The population was 274 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Kirbyville is a village in Taney County, Missouri, United States. The population was 195 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Branson, Missouri Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area in southwestern Missouri, anchored by the city of Branson, that is coterminous with Taney County. For the 2000 and 2010 censuses, the area was defined to also include Stone County, but the county was removed in the OMB statistical definitions released in 2023.
Then came the contractors with their hundreds of horses, their powerful machines for moving and piling stone and earth, their great camp of men, Irishmen for foremen, Austrians, Italians and negroes, the last most woefully unwelcome in these two counties, where no negroes have been allowed to live for many years.