Demographics
Much of Stone County’s economic growth is related to its continued emergence as a recreational tourism area, a residential area which attracts retirees and “second home” residents, and, increasingly, as a bedroom community for both the Branson area and Springfield area workforces. The emergence of Branson as a national tourism destination during the 1990s has played an important role in Stone County’s economy over the last decade.
Stone County has experienced a steady population growth since 1970. Stone County’s population in 1970 was about the same as it was in 1900. However, in 1990, the County’s population doubled over its 1970 level. According to Census 2000, between 1990 and 2000, Stone County’s population further increased by 50 percent, making Stone the third fastest growing county in Missouri. This trend of rapid population growth is expected to continue through 2010 at an annual growth rate of 2.5 percent.
The population growth continues to produce various construction-related jobs, as well as attracts additional businesses that provide a variety of jobs and services. There have been tremendous improvements in the availability of health services and new businesses over the past ten years.
Almost half of Stone County’s work force (46 percent) is employed within Stone County. The remaining 54 percent commute an average of 30 minutes to their jobs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The tourism industry employs up to 63 percent of the workforce, while the remaining 37 percent work force is made up by retail (13.9%), manufacturing (9%), health care/social assistance (7.5%) and education (6.6%).
Stone County sees a significant rise in employment during the summer months of June through October. This seasonal employment delivers a thrust to the local economy to meet the demands of
summer vacationers.
The Office of Social & Economic Data Analysis reports that from 1992 to 2002, the number of people working in Stone County grew almost 56 percent, from 8,911 job holders in 1992 to 13,880 workers in 2002. This growth rate closely parallels the U.S. Census Bureau figures for population growth at 50 percent from 1990 to 2000.
Personal income of Stone County residents also follows the population growth with a 51 percent change from 1992 to 2002. Collectively, personal income grew from $460 million to $696 million, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
| People QuickFacts |
Stone County
|
Missouri
|
| Population,2006 estimate |
31,382
|
5,842,713
|
| Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 |
9.5%
|
4.4%
|
| Population, 2000 |
28,658
|
5,595,211
|
| Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2006 |
4.7%
|
6.6%
|
| Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2006 |
19.9%
|
24.2%
|
| Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2006 |
20.8%
|
13.3%
|
| Female persons, percent, 2006 |
51.0%
|
51.1%
|
| White persons, percent, 2006 (a) |
97.6%
|
85.1%
|
| Black persons, percent, 2006 (a) |
0.2%
|
11.5%
|
| American Indian and Alaska Native persons, percent, 2006 (a) |
0.7%
|
0.5%
|
| Asian persons, percent, 2006 (a) |
0.3%
|
1.4%
|
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, percent, 2006 (a) |
Z
|
0.1%
|
| Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2006 |
1.2%
|
1.3%
|
| Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2006 (b) |
1.6%
|
2.8%
|
| White persons not Hispanic, percent, 2006 |
96.2%
|
82.6%
|
| Living in same house in 1995 and 2000, pct 5 yrs old & over |
53.1%
|
53.6%
|
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2000 |
1.1%
|
2.7%
|
| Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2000 |
2.1%
|
5.1%
|
| High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 |
80.4%
|
81.3%
|
| Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 |
14.2%
|
21.6%
|
| Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 |
5,658
|
973,637
|
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2000 |
30.1
|
23.8
|
|
|
||
| Housing units, 2006 |
17,518
|
2,623,094
|
| Homeownership rate, 2000 |
81.2%
|
70.3%
|
| Housing units in multi-unit structures, percent, 2000 |
8.2%
|
20.0%
|
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000 |
$102,700
|
$89,900
|
|
|
||
| Households, 2000 |
11,822
|
2,194,594
|
| Persons per household, 2000 |
2.4
|
2.48
|
| Median household income, 2004 |
$34,059
|
$40,885
|
| Per capita money income, 1999 |
$18,036
|
$19,936
|
| Persons below poverty, percent, 2004 |
14.3%
|
13.0%
|
| Geography QuickFacts | ||
| Land area, 2000 (square miles) |
463.22
|
68,885.93
|
| Persons per square mile, 2000 |
61.9
|
81.2
|
| FIPS Code |
209
|
29
|
|
|
||
| Metropolitan or Micropolitan Statistical Area |
Branson, MO Micro Area
|
|
|
(a) Includes persons reporting only one race.
|
|
(b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories.
|
|
FN: Footnote on this item for this area in place of data
|
|
NA: Not available
|
|
D: Suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information
|
|
X: Not applicable
|
|
S: Suppressed; does not meet publication standards
|
|
Z: Value greater than zero but less than half unit of measure shown
|
|
F: Fewer than 100 firms
|
|
Source: US Census Bureau State & County QuickFacts
|