Editing Taney County, Missouri

{{short description|County in Missouri, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Taney County
 | state                = Missouri
 | seal                 = Taneylogo.jpg
 | founded year         = 1837
 | founded date         = January 4
 | seat wl              = Forsyth
 | largest city wl      = Branson
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 652
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 632
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 19
 | area percentage      = 2.9
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 56066
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.taneycounty.org/
 | named for            = [[Roger B. Taney]]
 | district             = 7th
 | ex image             = Taney County MO Courthouse 20151021-047.jpg
 | ex image cap         = The Taney County Courthouse in Forsyth
}}

'''Taney County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the southwestern portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Missouri]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 56,066.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US29213|access-date=December 6, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Forsyth, Missouri|Forsyth]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is included in the [[Branson micropolitan area|Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

Taney County was officially organized on January 4, 1837, and named in honor of [[Roger B. Taney|Roger Brooke Taney]], the fifth [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|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, Missouri|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.

In 1904, the White River Railway was extended through the rugged terrain of [[Stone County, Missouri|Stone]] and Taney counties. By then, both counties had for years had a [[sundown town]] policy, forbidding African Americans to live there.<ref>{{cite news|title=Engineering Conquest of the Ozarks: Construction of White River Railroad Through Mountainous Districts of Stone and Taney Counties|work= The St. Louis Republic|location=St. Louis, Missouri|date=February 21, 1904|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2766215/|via=Newspapers.com|quote=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.}}</ref>

In 2008, a New Taney County Judicial Center was built. That Judicial Center houses the courtrooms, the Circuit Clerk, and the County Jail.<ref>
[https://www.taneycounty.org/index.php?section=history Taney County website], Taneycounty.org. Accessed November 10, 2022.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|652|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|632|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|19|sqmi}} (2.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt|archive-date=October 21, 2013}}</ref>

The county is drained by [[White River (Arkansas)|White River]] and its affluents.<ref>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Taney}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]] (north)
*[[Douglas County, Missouri|Douglas County]] (northeast)
*[[Ozark County, Missouri|Ozark County]] (east)
*[[Marion County, Arkansas]] (southeast)
*[[Boone County, Arkansas]] (south)
*[[Carroll County, Arkansas]] (southwest)
*[[Stone County, Missouri|Stone County]] (west)

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 65.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 65 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 65]]
*[[Image:US 160.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 160 (Missouri)|U.S. Route 160]]
*[[Image:MO-76.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 76|Route 76]]
*[[Image:MO-86.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 86|Route 86]]
*[[Image:MO-125.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 125|Route 125]]
*[[Image:MO-165.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 165|Route 165]]
*[[Image:MO-176.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 176|Route 176]]
*[[Image:MO-248.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 248|Route 248]]
*[[Image:MO-265.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 265|Route 265]]
*[[Image:MO-376.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 376|Route 376]]
*[[Image:MO-465.svg|20px]] [[Missouri Route 465|Route 465]] (decommissioned in early 2020, now part of MO-76)

===Transit===
*[[Jefferson Lines]]

===National protected area===
*[[Mark Twain National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 3264
|1850= 4373
|1860= 3576
|1870= 4347
|1880= 5599
|1890= 7973
|1900= 10812
|1910= 9287
|1920= 8878
|1930= 8867
|1940= 10323
|1950= 9863
|1960= 10238
|1970= 13023
|1980= 20467
|1990= 25561
|2000= 39703
|2010= 51675
|2020= 56066
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mo190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 22, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2015<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29213.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607045403/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29213.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 39,703 people, 16,158 households, and 11,052 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|24|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. There were 19,688 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12|/km2|/mi2|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.35% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.87% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.34% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.74% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.42% from two or more races. About 2.42% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race. Among the major first ancestries reported in Taney County were 20.8% [[German people|German]], 18.9% [[American ancestry|American]], 12.4% [[Irish people|Irish]], and 12.3% [[English people|English]].

There were 16,158 households, out of which 27.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were [[Marriage|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 Baptist Convention|Southern Baptists]] (32.88%), [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] (12.36%), and [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]] (9.13%).

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Taney County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Taney County, Missouri|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Taney%20County,%20Missouri&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|46,468
|83%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|837
|1.5%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|407
|0.73%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|608
|1.1%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|187
|0.33%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|3,230
|5.76%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|4,239
|7.56%
|}

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Taney-County-Ambulance-District-earns-financial-reward-505103121.html|title=Taney County Ambulance District earns financial reward|website=KY3 |language=en |access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ky3.com/content/news/Taney-County-paramedics-honor-local-life-savers-at-Tuesdays-open-house-510226671.html|title=Taney County paramedics honor local life-savers at Tuesday's open house|last=Brosseau|first=Kadee|website=www.ky3.com|language=en|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>

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 (United States)|high school diploma]] or higher while 14.9% hold a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher as their highest educational attainment.

===Colleges and universities===
* [[Ozarks Technical Community College]], Hollister
* [[College of the Ozarks]], Point Lookout

===Public schools===
*Bradleyville R-I School District - [[Bradleyville, Missouri|Bradleyville]]
**Bradleyville Elementary School (PK-06)
**Bradleyville High School (07-12)
*Branson R-IV School District - [[Branson, Missouri|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, Missouri|Forsyth]]
**Forsyth Elementary School (K-04)
**Forsyth Middle School (05-08)
**Forsyth High School (09-12)
*Hollister R-V School District - [[Hollister, Missouri|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, Missouri|Kirbyville]]
**Kirbyville Elementary School (K-03)
**Kirbyville Middle School (04-08)
*Mark Twain R-VIII School District - [[Rueter, Missouri|Rueter]]
**Mark Twain Elementary School (K-08)
*Taneyville R-II School District - [[Taneyville, Missouri|Taneyville]]
**Taneyville Elementary School (K-08)

===Private schools===
*[[Link Academy (Missouri)|Link Academy]] - [[Scott Township, Taney County, Missouri|Scott Township]] outside of Branson
*Trinity Christian Academy - [[Hollister, Missouri|Hollister]] - (PK-12) - [[Non-denominational Christianity|Non-denominational Christian]]
*Riverview Bible Baptist Church School - [[Forsyth, Missouri|Forsyth]] - (05-08) - [[Baptist]]
*School of the Ozarks - Point Lookout

===Alternative and vocational schools===
*Delmina Woods Youth Facility - [[Forsyth, Missouri|Forsyth]] - (06-12) - Alternative/Other School

===Public libraries===
*Forsyth Public Library<ref>{{cite web |last = Breeding| first = Marshall | title = Forsyth Public Library | publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/8945 | access-date = May 8, 2017}}</ref>  
*Library Center of the Ozarks<ref>{{cite web | last = Breeding| first = Marshall | title = Taneyhills Community Library| publisher = Libraries.org | url = https://librarytechnology.org/library/20133| access-date = May 8, 2017 }}</ref>

==Politics==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2014}}

===Local===
As of 2020, the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] completely controls politics at the local level in Taney County. Republicans hold every elected position in the county. However, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] previously controlled politics at the local level during the late 19th century and much of the first half of the 20th century.

{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Taney County, Missouri
| assessor          =Susan Chapman
| assessorparty     =Republican
| auditor           =David Clark
| auditorparty      =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Amy Strahan
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Donna Neeley
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =Nick Plummer
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Brandon Williams
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Sheila L. Wyatt
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Mona Cope
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner           =Kevin Tweedy
| coronerparty      =Republican
| prosecutor        =William Duston 
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Carol S. Davis
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Robert A. Dixon
| recorderparty     =Republican
| sheriff           =Brad Daniels
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| treasurer         =Melanie Smith
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}

===State===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2024 Missouri gubernatorial election|2024]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''78.09%''' ''20,622''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|19.65% ''5,189''
|align="center" |2.26% ''597''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2020 Missouri gubernatorial election|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''77.32%''' ''20,221''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|20.35% ''5,323''
|align="center" |2.33% ''609''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''71.03%''' ''16,579''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|25.67% ''5,992''
|align="center" |3.30% ''770''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''59.56%''' ''12,761''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|37.67% ''8,071''
|align="center" |2.77% ''593''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''51.16%''' ''10,903''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|46.31% ''9,870''
|align="center" |2.53% ''540''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''68.88%''' ''13,207''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|29.91% ''5,734''
|align="center" |1.21% ''233''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''60.03%''' ''9,003''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|37.30% ''5,594''
|align="center" |2.67% ''400''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''58.07%''' ''7,516''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.89% ''5,034''
|align="center" |3.04% ''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, Missouri|Kimberling City]]) and consists of a small part the southwestern section of the county. 
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 138 — Taney County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Don Phillips'''
  |votes      = '''559'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 138 — Taney County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Don Phillips'''
  |votes      = '''298'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 138 — Taney County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Don Phillips'''
  |votes      = '''556'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 155 — Currently represented by Lyle Rowland (R-[[Cedar Creek, Missouri|Cedar Creek]]) and consists of the eastern part of the county, including Cedar Creek, Forsyth, Kirbyville, Kissee Mills, Powersite, and Taneyville.
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 155 — Taney County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Lyle Rowland'''
  |votes      = '''5,280'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 155 — Taney County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States) 
  |candidate  = '''Lyle Rowland'''
  |votes      = '''2,586'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 155 — Taney County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Lyle Rowland'''
  |votes      = '''4,929'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

*District 156 — Currently represented by Jeffery Justus (R-[[Branson, Missouri|Branson]]) and consists of most of the western part of the county, including Branson, Bull Creek, Hollister, Merriam Woods, Ridgedale, Rockaway Beach, and Table Rock. 
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 156 — Taney County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeffery Justus'''
  |votes      = '''14,635'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 156 — Taney County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeffery Justus'''
  |votes      = '''6,492'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 156 — Taney County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeffery Justus'''
  |votes      = '''13,072'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

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, Missouri|Cassville]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 29 — Taney County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''David Sater'''
  |votes      = '''19,825'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 29 — Taney County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''David Sater'''
  |votes      = '''18,209'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

===Federal===
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Taney County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''16,117'''
  |percentage = '''69.00%'''
  |change     = '''+12.93'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 6,143
  |percentage = 26.30%
  |change     = -10.49
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 609
  |percentage = 2.61%
  |change     = -4.53
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 262
  |percentage = 1.12%
  |change     = +1.12
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 226
  |percentage = 0.97%
  |change     = +0.97
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Taney County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 11,940
  |percentage = 56.07%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''7,834'''
  |percentage = '''36.79%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 1,520
  |percentage = 7.14%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

Taney County is in [[MO-07|Missouri's 7th Congressional District]], represented by [[Eric Burlison]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]].  
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Taney County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''17,569'''
  |percentage = '''76.16%'''
  |change     = '''+2.99'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Genevieve Williams
  |votes      = 4,664
  |percentage = 20.22%
  |change     = -1.15
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States) 
  |candidate  = Benjamin T. Brixey
  |votes      = 836
  |percentage = 3.62%
  |change     = -1.84
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Taney County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''7,709'''
  |percentage = '''73.17%'''
  |change     = '''+2.55'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jim Evans
  |votes      = 2,251
  |percentage = 21.37%
  |change     = -3.37
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kevin Craig
  |votes      = 575
  |percentage = 5.46%
  |change     = +0.82
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 7th Congressional District — Taney County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Billy Long'''
  |votes      = '''14,841'''
  |percentage = '''70.62%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jim Evans
  |votes      = 5,199
  |percentage = 24.74%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kevin Craig
  |votes      = 975
  |percentage = 4.64%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Taney County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|21,236|5,329|259|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|20,508|5,339|491|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|18,276|4,373|1,024|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|15,746|5,479|513|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|14,736|6,683|322|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|13,578|5,601|101|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,647|5,092|373|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,844|4,623|1,693|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|6,081|4,682|2,442|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,043|3,888|46|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7,082|2,912|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,230|3,389|235|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,696|3,626|22|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,982|1,435|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,289|1,219|414|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,741|2,544|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,692|1,439|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,218|1,477|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,037|1,099|12|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,361|1,427|9|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,499|936|9|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,167|1,497|20|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,827|1,710|23|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|2,045|1,911|31|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,319|971|12|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,710|981|90|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,001|913|42|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,123|679|43|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|852|588|343|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,080|628|59|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,162|568|76|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,137|753|32|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,024|925|7|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|791|459|84|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|827|471|103|Missouri}}
Taney County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. [[George W. Bush]] carried Taney County in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] and [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] by more than two-to-one margins. Taney County strongly favored [[John McCain]] over [[Barack Obama]] in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]. The last time the Republican Party failed to carry Taney County was in 1860.<ref>Brandt, Maxwell; [http://www.geographylists.com/list21j.html ‘A Few Lists of 2008 Election Results’]</ref>

Like most rural areas throughout the Bible Belt in Southwest Missouri, voters in Taney County traditionally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles which tend to strongly influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)|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 [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)|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|embryonic stem cell research]]. Despite Taney County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing [[Populism|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.

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
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 of Arkansas|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.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col}}
*[[Branson, Missouri|Branson]] (small portion in [[Stone County, Missouri|Stone County]]; largest city)
*[[Forsyth, Missouri|Forsyth]] (county seat)
*[[Hollister, Missouri|Hollister]]
*[[Merriam Woods, Missouri|Merriam Woods]]
*[[Rockaway Beach, Missouri|Rockaway Beach]]
{{div col end}}

===Villages===
{{div col}}
*[[Bull Creek, Missouri|Bull Creek]]
*[[Kirbyville, Missouri|Kirbyville]]
*[[Saddlebrooke, Missouri|Saddlebrooke]] (mostly in [[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]])
*[[Taneyville, Missouri|Taneyville]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
*[[Kissee Mills, Missouri|Kissee Mills]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=10em|rules=yes}}
*[[Bradleyville, Missouri|Bradleyville]]
*[[Brownbranch, Missouri|Brownbranch]]
*[[Cedar Creek, Missouri|Cedar Creek]]
*[[Day, Missouri|Day]]
*[[Dickens, Missouri|Dickens]]
*[[Eastview, Missouri|Eastview]]
*[[Garber, Missouri|Garber]]
*[[Hercules, Missouri|Hercules]]
*[[Hilda, Taney County, Missouri|Hilda]]
*[[McClurg, Missouri|McClurg]]
*[[Mildred, Missouri|Mildred]]
*[[Mincy, Missouri|Mincy]]
*[[Ozark Beach, Missouri|Ozark Beach]]
*[[Point Lookout, Missouri|Point Lookout]]
*[[Powersite, Missouri|Powersite]]
*[[Protem, Missouri|Protem]]
*[[Ridgedale, Missouri|Ridgedale]]
*[[Swan, Missouri|Swan]]
*[[Table Rock, Missouri|Table Rock]]
*[[Walnut Shade, Missouri|Walnut Shade]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of sundown towns in the United States]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Taney County, Missouri]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.taneycounty.org/ Taney County government's website]
* [http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Taney County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816173126/http://mulibraries.missouri.edu/specialcollections/platbooks.htm |date=August 16, 2011 }} from [[University of Missouri]] Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
* https://web.archive.org/web/20131013222920/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Taney County, Missouri
|North     = [[Christian County, Missouri|Christian County]]
|Northeast = [[Douglas County, Missouri|Douglas County]]
|Northwest = [[Stone County, Missouri|Stone County]]
|East      = [[Ozark County, Missouri|Ozark County]]
|Southeast = [[Marion County, Arkansas]]
|South     = [[Boone County, Arkansas]]
|Southwest = [[Carroll County, Arkansas]]
|West      = [[Stone County, Missouri|Stone County]]
}}

{{Taney County, Missouri}}
{{Missouri}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|36.65|-93.04|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MO_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Taney County, Missouri| ]]
[[Category:Branson, Missouri micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:Sundown towns in Missouri]]