Branson is a city in Stone an 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.Historically, Branson was a small city. Today it is sometimes referred to as a "Family-Friendly Las Vegas" because of the numerous shows and attractions, as well as the flashy building decorations and neon lights. The population was 6,050 at the 2000 census. The Branson Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces Stone and Taney counties.