Liberal, Kansas
City and county seat
Coordinates37°02′48″N 100°55′40″W
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountySeward
Founded1888
Incorporated1888
MayorJeff Parsons[1]
City ManagerScarlette Diseker
Area total11.65 sq mi
Area land11.43 sq mi
Area water0.22 sq mi
Area total30.18 km²
Area land29.60 km²
Area water0.57 km²
Unit prefImperial
Elevation2848 ft
Population as of2020
Population total19825
Time zoneCST (UTC-6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Codes67901, 67905
Area code620
FIPS code20-39825
GNIS ID485613[2]
Websitecityofliberal.org

Liberal is a city in and the county seat of Seward County, Kansas, United States.[2] As of 2024, the population of the city was 18,743.[3][4] It is located in southwestern Kansas, along U.S. Route 54 highway, near the Kansas-Oklahoma state line. Liberal is the home of Seward County Community College.

History

See also: History of Kansas

Early settler Seymour S. Rogers built the first house in what would become Liberal in 1872. Rogers became famous in the region for giving free water to thirsty travelers. Reportedly, Liberal gained its name from the common response to his acts of kindness, "That's very liberal of you."[5][6] In 1885 Rogers built a general store, and with it came an official U.S. Post Office. Rogers named the post office 'Liberal'. After the railroad was built close by, a plan for the town site was created in 1888. A year later the population was around 800.[5]

Drought caused some farmers to give up and look for more fertile territory; however, when the nearby Indian Territory was opened, more settlers headed to the cheap land that would become Oklahoma.[5]

Natural gas was discovered west of town, in what would become part of the massive Panhandle-Hugoton Gas Field, in 1920. Oil was discovered southwest of town in 1951. In 1963 the largest helium plant in the world, National Helium, was opened.[5]

Geography

Liberal is located in southwestern Kansas at the intersection of U.S. routes 54 and 83. Liberal is 140 miles (225 km) north-northeast of Amarillo, Texas, 202 mi (325 km) west-southwest of Wichita, and 288 mi (463 km) southeast of Denver, Colorado.[7][8]

The city lies approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the Cimarron River in the High Plains region of the Great Plains.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.75 square miles (30.43 km2), of which 11.61 square miles (30.07 km2) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[9]

Climate

Liberal has a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by hot, dry summers, cool, dry winters, and large diurnal temperature variation year-round; relative humidity averages 63%.[10][11] On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, February is the driest month and June is the wettest month.[12]

The high temperature reaches or exceeds 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 80.1 days a year and 100 °F (38 °C) an average of 16.5 days. The minimum temperature falls to or below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on an average of 1.6 days a year. The highest temperature recorded in Liberal was 114 °F (45.6 °C) on June 10, 1981; the coldest temperature recorded was −20 °F (−28.9 °C) on February 27, 1930.[13]

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Liberal had a population of 19,825 with 6,618 households and 4,771 families.[14][15] The population density was 1,734.5 per square mile (669.7/km2). There were 7,389 housing units at an average density of 646.5 per square mile (249.6/km2).[14][16]

30.9% of residents were under the age of 18, 11.2% were from 18 to 24, 27.0% were from 25 to 44, 21.0% were from 45 to 64, and 9.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.3 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.8 males.[14]

Of the 6,618 households, 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.4% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.2% of households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.9 and the average family size was 3.5.[14]

There were 7,389 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.6%.[14]

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.[17]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[18]
RaceNumberPercent
White7,69038.8%
Black or African American6573.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native4892.5%
Asian5142.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander60.0%
Some other race5,71428.8%
Two or more races4,75524.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)13,49968.1%

2016–2020 American Community Survey estimates

An estimated 6.6% of residents had a bachelor's degree or higher.[19] The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $48,434 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,385) and the median family income was $54,167 (+/- $9,562).[20] Males had a median income of $34,371 (+/- $2,664) versus $26,005 (+/- $1,722) for females, and the median income for those above 16 years old was $30,586 (+/- $1,873).[21] Approximately 10.1% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those ages 65 or over.[22][23]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,[24] there were 20,525 people, 6,623 households, and 4,838 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,832.6 inhabitants per square mile (707.6 /km2). There were 7,118 housing units at an average density of 641.3 inhabitants per square mile (247.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.6% White, 3.7% African American, 2.9% Asian, 0.8% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 20.6% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 58.7% of the population.[25]

There were 6,623 households, of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03, and the average family size was 3.54.[25]

The median age was 28.4 years. 32.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 19.4% were from 45 to 64; and 8.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city population was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.[25]

The median income for a household in the city was $40,247, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $31,435 versus $25,208 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,668. About 15.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.6% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.[25]

Economy

See also: Golden Triangle of Meat-packing

Energy and agriculture are the main economic drivers of the area. Natural resources include oil, natural gas, water, gravel and sand. The beef industry (ranches, feed lots and packing plants) is Liberal's largest source of employment. Hard winter wheat, corn, milo, alfalfa and cotton are common crops. Trucking is a major industry. Dairies and pork processors are a growing business.

As of 2012, 70.2% of the population over the age of 16 was in the labor force. 0.0% was in the armed forces, and 70.2% was in the civilian labor force with 63.4% being employed and 6.9% unemployed. The composition, by occupation, of the employed civilian labor force was: 28.5% in production, transportation, and material moving; 20.0% in natural resources, construction, and maintenance; 19.9% in sales and office occupations; 18.9% in management, business, science, and arts; and 12.6% in service occupations. The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: manufacturing (24.4%); educational services, health care, and social assistance (19.4%); and retail trade (10.5%).[25]

The cost of living in Liberal is relatively low; compared to a U.S. average of 100, the cost of living index for the city is 80.8.[26] As of 2012, the median home value in the city was $85,600, the median selected monthly owner cost was $961 for housing units with a mortgage and $383 for those without, and the median gross rent was $648.[25]

Top employers

According to Liberal's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top 10 employers in the city are:[27]

EmployerEmployees
1National Beef Packing Company3,500
2Liberal USD 480800
3Seward County Community College450
4Southwest Medical Center425
5Walmart Stores350
6Seaboard Foods275
7Seward County200
8City of Liberal200
9National Carriers200
10Panhandle Oilfield Services175

Arts and culture

Events

Liberal is famous for its annual Pancake Day race that is held in competition with the town of Olney, United Kingdom for the fastest time between both cities.[28]

Points of interest

Liberal has a water park known as Adventure Bay.

The fifth largest collection of civilian and military aircraft in the United States is located at the Mid-America Air Museum. Started with a gift of fifty planes by General Tom (Thomas) Welch Jr., the museum has more than one hundred aircraft.[29]

The Coronado Museum has items from the Native Americans that lived in the area, as well as items from Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's expedition to the area in 1541, and the history of farming and ranching in the county in more recent times.[30]

Liberal is home to "The Land of Oz" exhibit from The Wizard of Oz, a recreation of Dorothy Gale's house and the famed Yellow Brick Road, featuring donated bricks bearing the names of former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and Liza Minnelli (Judy Garland's daughter). This exhibit was originally designed and displayed for Topeka in 1981, but relocated here eleven years later by its creator Linda Windler.[31]

Liberal Memorial Library is located on North Kansas Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Cooper Park. The Book Front entrance was completed in April 1955 and designed by the building's architect George L. Pitcher. Wheeler Williams, a sculptor from New York, signed an agreement in October 1960 to mold the "Pioneer Mother of Kansas." This six foot statue, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. D. K. Baty, was to be erected in Cooper Park on Memorial Day, May 30, 1961. It was placed opposite of the "Statue of Liberty," which was donated and placed in Cooper Park by the Boy Scouts of America.

Sports

The Liberal Bee Jays, a semi-professional baseball team, have won five national championships and 13 state championships. The Bee Jays have been coached by three major league managers and have sent 165 players to the major leagues.[32]

Government

Liberal has a commission-manager government with a city commission consisting of five members elected at-large. Elections occur every two years in the odd numbered year, and commissioners serve two-year or four-year terms depending on the number of votes they receive. Each year, the commission appoints a member to serve as mayor and another to serve as vice-mayor.[33] The city manager heads the city administration.[34]

Education

Colleges

Primary and secondary

The community is served by Liberal USD 480 public school district, which operates twelve schools in the city:[35]

  • Bright Start Pre-K Center (Pre-K)
  • Cottonwood Elementary School (K–5)
  • MacArthur Elementary School (K–5)
  • Meadowlark Elementary School (K–5)
  • Prairie View Elementary School (K–5)
  • Sunflower Intermediate School (K–5)
  • Eisenhower Middle School (6–8)
  • Seymour Rogers Middle School (6–8)
  • Liberal High School (9–12)

There is also a Christian school in Liberal: Fellowship Baptist School (K–12).[36]

Media

Main article: Media in Liberal, Kansas

Four newspapers are published in Liberal. The Leader & Times is the city's main daily newspaper, published six days a week.[37] It is the result of the merger between the city's two previous dailies, the High Plains Daily Leader and the Southwest Daily Times.[38] The publisher of the Leader & Times also prints a weekly Spanish language paper, El Lider.[39] Seward County Community College publishes a bi-weekly student newspaper, the Crusader.[40] The fourth paper is the Liberal Light, published weekly.[41]

Liberal is a center of broadcast media for southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Two AM and seven FM radio stations are licensed to and broadcast from the city.[42][43] Liberal is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market,[44] and one television station broadcasts from the city: KSWE-LD, a sister station of KDGL-LD in Sublette, Kansas.[45]

On cable, viewers can receive stations from the Wichita/Hutchinson market (via semi-satellite stations in Garden City/Ensign), PBS' Tulsa affiliate, KOED, as well as Amarillo, Texas's CBS affiliate, KFDA-TV.

Infrastructure

Transportation

U.S. Route 83 runs north–south along the east side of the city, intersecting U.S. Route 54 which runs northeast–southwest. In addition, Liberal is the western terminus of U.S. Route 270 which runs concurrently with U.S. 83 south from the city.[7]

Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport is immediately west of the city.[46] Publicly owned, it has two operative paved runways and is used primarily for general aviation.[47] United Express provides airline service with daily flights to Denver.[48]

The Tucumcari Line of the Union Pacific Railroad runs parallel to U.S. 54 northeast–southwest through the city.[49]

The City Bus provides fixed-route and dial-a-ride transit services Monday through Friday.[50]

Notable people

See also: List of Seward County Community College people

Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Liberal include:

  • B. H. Fairchild wrote the poem, "At the Excavation of Liberal, Kansas" (in: The Art of the Lathe, Alice James Books, 1998), in memory of William Stafford; it contains Stafford's poem, "What I Heard Whispered at the Edge of Liberal, Kansas" (from: Stories That Could Be True: New and Collected Poems, Harper and Row, 1977).
  • In the film National Lampoon's Vacation, Clark W. Griswold suggests altering the family's route of travel in order to visit Liberal so they can see the world's largest house of mud. The idea is rejected by his wife, Ellen, in favor of getting to her cousin Eddie's home.[69]
  • Season 4, Episode 9 of Fargo is set in Liberal.[70]

References

  1. ^ "City Commission; City of Liberal."
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Liberal, Kansas Population 2024". worldpopulationreview.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  4. ^ "Liberal Demographics | Current Kansas Census Data". www.kansas-demographics.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  5. ^ History: Over One Hundred Years of Being "Liberal" Archived 2009-03-18 at the Wayback Machine - at City of Liberal.com
  6. ^ Pressler, Jessica (12 December 2017). "A Militia's Plot to Bomb Somali Refugees in a Kansas Town". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  7. ^ "2003-2004 Official Transportation Map". Kansas Department of Transportation. 2003. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  8. ^ "City Distance Tool". Geobytes. Archived from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  10. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007-03-01). "Updated Köppen-Geiger climate classification map". Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. ' (4): 439–473. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  11. ^ "Historical Weather for Liberal, Kansas, United States of America". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
  12. ^ "Average weather for Liberal, KS". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  13. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Dodge City". National Weather Service. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  15. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  16. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  19. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  20. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  21. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  22. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  23. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau
  25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  26. ^ "Liberal, Kansas". City-Data.com. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  27. ^ "Labor Market; City of Liberal.". Archived from the original on 2017-03-13. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  28. ^ "Olney, England narrowly beats Liberal, Kan. in Pancake Day Race". KWCH. 25 February 2020. Archived 22 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  29. ^ Mid-America Air Museum Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine - at CityofLiberal.com
  30. ^ Seward County Museum Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "The 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs - A Kansas Sampler Foundation Project". www.kansassampler.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-16.
  32. ^ Liberal Bee Jays
  33. ^ "City Commissioners". City of Liberal. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  34. ^ "City Administration". City of Liberal. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  35. ^ "USD 480 Schools". Unified School District 480. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  36. ^ "City of Liberal, Education, Schools, Colleges". City of Liberal. 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  37. ^ "Record Details - Leader & Times". Kansas Press Association. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  38. ^ "Liberal Leader & Times". Mondo Times. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  39. ^ "Record Details - El Lider". Kansas Press Association. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  40. ^ "Record Details - Crusader". Kansas Press Association. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  41. ^ "Record Details - Liberal Light". Kansas Press Association. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  42. ^ "AMQ AM Radio Database Query". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  43. ^ "FMQ FM Radio Database Query". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  44. ^ "TV Market Maps - Kansas". EchoStar Knowledge Base. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  45. ^ "Digital TV Market Listings". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  46. ^ "General Highway Map - Seward County, Kansas". Kansas Department of Transportation. 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  47. ^ "KLBL - Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  48. ^ "PenAir Midwest Destinations". Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  49. ^ "UPRR Common Line Names". Union Pacific Railroad. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  50. ^ "City Bus". Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  51. ^ "Wayne D. Angell". U.S. Trade Deficit Review Commission. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  52. ^ "Chris Brown Named Head Coach of Fort Hays State Football". Fort Hays State University. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  53. ^ "LAMAR CHAPMAN". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  54. ^ "Girl Jockey: Wantha Davis - Timeline". Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  55. ^ "Kasey Hayes". Professional Bull Riders. Archived from the original on 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  56. ^ "Kristin Key". Last Comic Standing. NBC. Archived from the original on 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  57. ^ "Shalee Lehning". WNBA Draft 2009 - Prospect Search. Women's National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  58. ^ Votesmart.org.-M.C. Leist
  59. ^ "Martin Lewis". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  60. ^ "Laura Gibbs Maczka". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  61. ^ "Kelli McCarty". IMDb. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  62. ^ Leggett, Steve. "Jerrod Niemann - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  63. ^ "Melvin Sanders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  64. ^ "William Stafford". University of Nebraska–Lincoln - Center for Great Plains Studies. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  65. ^ "Doug Terry". Scottish Claymores. Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  66. ^ "Dallas Trahern". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  67. ^ "Jerame Tuman". National Football League. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  68. ^ "General Larry D. Welch". United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  69. ^ "National Lampoon's Vacation script". Dailyscript. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  70. ^ "Rabbi and Satchel end up in no place like home on a gray Fargo"

Further reading

See also: List of books about Seward County, Kansas