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. Its county seat is Forsyth. It is coterminus with the Branson micropolitan area. For the 2000 and 2010 censuses, the Branson micropolitan area was defined to also include Stone County, but the county was removed in the OMB statistical definitions released in 2023.
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.
History
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.
Bald Knobbers
In the years following the Civil War, Taney County experienced ongoing violence and weak official authority. In response, a group of 13 local men led by Union veteran Nat Kinney formed a vigilante organization known as the Bald Knobbers on April 5, 1885, near Kirbyville, Missouri. The group took its name from their meeting location on a treeless hilltop known as Snapp's Bald.
The Bald Knobbers were organized not to uphold equal justice, but to impose their own strict and often violent values on the community. Claiming to oppose crime, they often targeted individuals who simply did not conform to their moral or political views. As their influence grew, their actions became more extreme—ranging from intimidation and public beatings to acts of deadly violence.
The group’s tactics soon provoked backlash. Opposing factions, sometimes called the Anti-Bald Knobbers, formed in resistance. Tensions escalated into deadly confrontations, including the assassination of Kinney in 1888 and the 1889 public execution of several Bald Knobbers who had committed murder.
The Bald Knobbers left a controversial legacy, seen remembered by many as enforcers of fear who used violence to shape society according to their own ideals. Their story inspired literature and folklore, including Harold Bell Wright’s novel The Shepherd of the Hills and local Ozarks tourism attractions.
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.
In 2008, a New Taney County Judicial Center was built. That Judicial Center houses the courtrooms, the Circuit Clerk, and the County Jail.Taney County website, Taneycounty.org. Accessed November 10, 2022.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.9%) is water.
The county is drained by White River and its affluents.
Adjacent counties Christian County (north) Douglas County (northeast) Ozark County (east) Marion County, Arkansas (southeast) Boone County, Arkansas (south) Carroll County, Arkansas (southwest) Stone County (west)
Major highways
Transit Jefferson Lines
National protected area Mark Twain National Forest (part)
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Taney County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)20,19525,11937,65147,08346,46898.67%98.27%94.83%91.11%82.88%Black or African American alone (NH)28161294058370.14%0.06%0.32%0.78%1.49%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)991473093764070.48%0.58%0.78%0.73%0.73%Asian alone (NH)32811363296080.16%0.32%0.34%0.64%1.08%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census2140187xx0.05%0.08%0.33%Other race alone (NH)16422531820.08%0.02%0.06%0.10%0.32%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4738953,048xx1.19%1.73%5.44%Hispanic or Latino (any race)971949622,4944,3290.47%0.76%2.42%4.83%7.72%Total20,46725,56139,70351,67556,066 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 56,066, and the median age was 42.3 years; 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 while 22.0% were 65 years of age or older.
For every 100 females there were 96.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.2 males.
62.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 37.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 22,486 households in the county, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 29,391 housing units, of which 23.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.8% were owner-occupied and 37.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%. The race alone makeup (including Hispanics in the various racial categories) of the county was 85.1% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.4% from some other race, and 7.6% from two or more races, with Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprising 7.7% of the population. Detailed counts and percentages appear below.
+Taney County Racial CompositionRaceNum.Perc.White (NH)46,46883%Black or African American (NH)8371.5%Native American (NH)4070.73%Asian (NH)6081.1%Pacific Islander (NH)1870.33%Other/Mixed (NH)3,2305.76%Hispanic or Latino4,2397.56%
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 39,703 people, 16,158 households, and 11,052 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 19,688 housing units at an average density of . 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.
Religion 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%).
Public safety 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.
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.
Education 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.
K-12 school districts, including those based in other counties with portions of Taney County, include: - Text list
Bradleyville R-I School District Branson Public Schools Forsyth R-III School District Galena R-II School District Hollister R-V School District Spokane R-VII School District
Elementary school districts include:
Kirbyville R-VI School District Mark Twain R-VIII School District Taneyville R-II School District
Colleges and universities Ozarks Technical Community College, Hollister College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout
Public schools Bradleyville R-I School District - Bradleyville Bradleyville Elementary School (PK-06) Bradleyville High School (07-12) Branson Public Schools - Branson Branson Primary School (PK) Branson Buchanan Elementary (K-04) Branson Cedar Ridge Elementary (K-04) Branson Buchanan Intermediate (04-06) Branson Cedar Ridge Intermediate (04-06) Branson Jr. High School (07-08) Branson High School (09-12) Forsyth R-III School District - Forsyth Forsyth Elementary School (K-04) Forsyth Middle School (05-08) Forsyth High School (09-12) Hollister R-V School District - Hollister Hollister Elementary School (PK-04) Hollister Middle School (05-06) Riedgedale Elementary School Hollister Jr. High School (07-08) Hollister High School (09-12) Kirbyville R-VI School District - Kirbyville Kirbyville Elementary School (K-03) Kirbyville Middle School (04-08) Mark Twain R-VIII School District - Rueter Mark Twain Elementary School (K-08) Taneyville R-II School District - Taneyville Taneyville Elementary School (K-08)
Private schools Link Academy - Scott Township outside of Branson Trinity Christian Academy - Hollister - (PK-12) - Non-denominational Christian Riverview Bible Baptist Church School - Forsyth - (05-08) - Baptist School of the Ozarks - Point Lookout
Alternative and vocational schools Delmina Woods Youth Facility - Forsyth - (06-12) - Alternative/Other School
Public libraries Forsyth Public Library Library Center of the Ozarks
Politics
Local
As of 2020, the Republican Party completely controls politics at the local level in Taney County. Republicans hold every elected position in the county.
State + Past Gubernatorial Elections Results Year Republican Democratic Third Parties202478.09% 20,62219.65% 5,1892.26% 597202077.32% 20,22120.35% 5,3232.33% 609201671.03% 16,57925.67% 5,9923.30% 770201259.56% 12,76137.67% 8,0712.77% 593200851.16% 10,90346.31% 9,8702.53% 540200468.88% 13,20729.91% 5,7341.21% 233200060.03% 9,00337.30% 5,5942.67% 400199658.07% 7,51638.89% 5,0343.04% 394
Taney County is divided into three legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.
District 138 — Currently represented by Don Phillips (R-Kimberling City) and consists of a small part the southwestern section of the county.