Forsyth - Then & Now
Named for John Forsyth, the Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson, the community of Forsyth hails as Taney County’s seat, and, in fact, is older than the county itself (the county was named in honor of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney who assumed office in 1837, the year the county was organized). Old Forsyth was blessed by its location in a beautiful valley encompassed by a History of Bridges. Because it was the seat of government, early settlers found more traffic here than elsewhere in the county.
Forsyth was the head of navigation for the White River, before it was dammed. As a river port, it served not only Springfield and the Ozarks, but also Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and the Indian territories in the west for over a century. In 1911, Congress granted approval for the construction of a dam across the White River. Powersite Dam, which forms Lake Taneycomo, was completed in 1913 and stands as the first man-made dam west of the Mississippi. Now, this picturesque lake is recognized as one of the finest year-round rainbow trout fishing lakes in the world. The view from the bluff high above the dam has been reported by National Geographic as one of the most scenic spots in the country.
With the building of Bull Shoals Lake, the Corps of Engineers bought the valley, approximately 30 acres of what was once the site of the town of Forsyth. The community moved most of its buildings, including the courthouse, to an area just one mile away to a hill overlooking Bull Shoals Lake. Eventually, the Corps leased the valley back to the City of Forsyth, and now it has been developed into beautiful Shadow Rock Park, which is being placed on the National Register of Historical Sites.
The present town of Forsyth is on two lakes – Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals. It is a lovely city with a population that reaches to just over 1,600 residents. In springtime, the city is abloom with Forsythia bushes, which were planted in the 1950s when a local club sold starts of the plants door-to-door. The area has been called the ecological center of the U.S., a phrase coined by a retired agronomist. With all the facilities necessary for our visiting tourists and yet all of the peacefulness of good country living, Forsyth is truly the “Gateway to the Ozark Outdoors.”
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