Liberal, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Liberal is the county seat
of Seward County
, Kansas
, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,525.
, 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.
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
.
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.
region of the Great Plains
. Located in southwestern Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 83
and U.S. Route 54
, Liberal is 140 miles (225.3 km) north-northeast of Amarillo
, 202 miles (325.1 km) west-southwest of Wichita
, and 288 miles (463.5 km) southeast of Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km²), of which 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.25%) is water.
is 63%. Temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 99 days a year and drop below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 121 days a year. Per year, precipitation averages 19.66 inches (499 mm), and snowfall averages 19.6 inches (50 cm). Liberal typically experiences precipitation 61 days a year and snowfall 9 days a year. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Liberal was 114 °F (46 °C) in 1981; the coldest temperature recorded was -17 °F (-27 °C) in 1959.
was 1,832.6 people per square mile (707.6/km²). There were 7,118 housing units at an average density of 641.3 per square mile (248.9/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. 58.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,623 households out 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.
In the city, the population was spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $39,867, and the median income for a family was $42,102. Males had a median income of $29,340 versus $24,906 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,675. About 15.4% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
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.
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. The city manager
heads the city administration.
480) operates twelve public schools in the city:
There is also a Christian school
in Liberal: Fellowship Baptist School (K-12).
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.
Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport is immediately west of the city. Publicly owned, it has two operative paved runways and is used primarily for general aviation
. Great Lakes Airlines
provides airline service with daily flights to Denver.
The Tucumcari Line of the Union Pacific Railroad
runs parallel to U.S. 54 northeast-southwest through the city.
Print
Newspapers
AM
FM
-Hutchinson, Kansas
television market
. America One
affiliate KLKT-LP is licensed to Liberal and broadcasts on channel 41.
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.
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.
Liberal is also home to "The Land of Oz" exhibit from The Wizard Of Oz, a recreation of Dorothy's house and the famed Yellow Brick Road, featuring donated bricks bearing the names of such luminaries as former U.S. Senator Bob Dole
, Ronald
and Nancy Reagan
, and Liza Minnelli
.
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
.
wrote his LIBERAL PLAIN SONG (for Joseph Kudirka) while stopped at a gas station in Liberal in 2005. http://uploaddownloadperform.net/MarkSo/LIBERALPLAINSONG?action=downloadman&upname=LIBERAL%20PLAIN%20SONG.pdf
In the movie National Lampoon's Vacation
, Clark W. Griswold mentions departing the route of travel to Liberal to 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.
Schools
Maps
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Seward County
Seward County, Kansas
Seward County is a county of the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 22,952. The largest city and county seat is Liberal...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,525.
History
S.S. Rogers built the first house in what would become Liberal in 1872. Rogers became famous in the region for giving water to weary travelers. Reportedly, Liberal gained its name from the common response to his acts of kindness, "That's very liberal of you." In 1885 Rogers built a general storeGeneral store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
, and with it came an official U.S. Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
. 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.
Drought caused some farmers to give up and look for more fertile territory; however, when the nearby Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
was opened, more settlers headed to the cheap land that would become Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
was discovered west of town, in what would become part of the massive Panhandle-Hugoton Gas Field
Hugoton Natural Gas Area
Hugoton Natural Gas Area is a combination of large natural gas fields in the U.S. state of Kansas, the largest of which is the Hugoton Field. Its name is derived from the town of Hugoton, Kansas, near which the Hugoton Field was first discovered.-History:...
, in 1920. Oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
was discovered southwest of town in 1951. In 1963 the largest helium
Helium
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
plant in the world, National Helium, was opened.
Geography
Liberal is located at 37°2′36"N 100°55′41"W (37.043418, -100.928133) at an elevation of 2,835 feet (864 m). It lies approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of the Cimarron River in the High PlainsHigh Plains (United States)
The High Plains are a subregion of the Great Plains mostly in the Western United States, but also partly in the Midwest states of Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota, generally encompassing the western part of the Great Plains before the region reaches the Rocky Mountains...
region of the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. Located in southwestern Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83 is one of the longest north–south U.S. Highways in the United States, at . Only four other north–south routes are longer: U.S. Routes 1, 41, 59 and 87. The highway's northern terminus is north of Westhope, North Dakota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as...
and U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
, Liberal is 140 miles (225.3 km) north-northeast of Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
, 202 miles (325.1 km) west-southwest of Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, and 288 miles (463.5 km) southeast of Denver.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km²), of which 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.25%) is water.
Climate
Liberal has a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. The yearly average temperature in Liberal is 57 °F (14 °C), and the average relative humidityRelative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
is 63%. Temperatures exceed 90 °F (32 °C) an average of 99 days a year and drop below 32 °F (0 °C) an average of 121 days a year. Per year, precipitation averages 19.66 inches (499 mm), and snowfall averages 19.6 inches (50 cm). Liberal typically experiences precipitation 61 days a year and snowfall 9 days a year. On average, January is the coldest month, July is the hottest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Liberal was 114 °F (46 °C) in 1981; the coldest temperature recorded was -17 °F (-27 °C) in 1959.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 20,525 people, 6,623 households, and 4,838 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,832.6 people per square mile (707.6/km²). There were 7,118 housing units at an average density of 641.3 per square mile (248.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.6% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 3.7% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 2.9% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.8% American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 20.6% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.2% from two or more races. 58.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,623 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
In the city, the population was spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males age 18 and over.
As of 2009, the median income for a household in the city was $39,867, and the median income for a family was $42,102. Males had a median income of $29,340 versus $24,906 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,675. About 15.4% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
EnergyEnergy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
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
Winter wheat
Winter wheat is a type of wheat that is planted from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring. Winter wheat needs a few weeks of cold before being able to flower, however persistent snow...
, corn, milo
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
and cotton are common crops. Trucking is a major industry. Dairies and pork processors are a growing business.
Government
Liberal has a commission-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
government with a city commission consisting of five members elected at-large
Plurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
. 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
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and another to serve as vice-mayor. The city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
heads the city administration.
Primary and secondary education
Liberal Public Schools (Unified School DistrictUnified school district
A unified school district or unit school district is a school district which includes both primary school and high school under the same district control....
480) operates twelve public schools in the city:
- Garfield Elementary School (Grades K-3)
- Lincoln Elementary School (K-3)
- MacArthur Elementary School (K-3)
- McDermott Elementary School (K-3)
- McKinley Elementary School (K-3)
- Southlawn Elementary School (K-3)
- Washington Elementary School (Pre-K-3)
- Cottonwood Intermediate School (4-6)
- Sunflower Intermediate School (4-6)
- South Middle School (7-8)
- West Middle School (7-8)
- Liberal High SchoolLiberal High School (Kansas)Liberal High School is a fully accredited public high school, serving students in grades 9–12, located in Liberal, Kansas, USA. Liberal High School is the only high school within the city limits of Liberal, KS. The school colors are red and black. The enrollment for the 2009/2010 school year is...
(9-12)
There is also a Christian school
Christian school
A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization.The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures...
in Liberal: Fellowship Baptist School (K-12).
Transportation
U.S. Route 83U.S. Route 83
U.S. Route 83 is one of the longest north–south U.S. Highways in the United States, at . Only four other north–south routes are longer: U.S. Routes 1, 41, 59 and 87. The highway's northern terminus is north of Westhope, North Dakota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as...
runs north-south along the east side of the city, intersecting U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
which runs northeast-southwest. In addition, Liberal is the western terminus of U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270
U.S. Route 270 is a spur of U.S. Route 70. It currently runs for 643 miles from Liberal, Kansas at U.S. Route 54 to White Hall, Arkansas at Interstate 530 and U.S. Route 65. It passes through the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
which runs concurrently with U.S. 83 south from the city.
Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport is immediately west of the city. Publicly owned, it has two operative paved runways and is used primarily for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
. Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines , is an American regional airline operating domestic scheduled and charter services. Corporate headquarters are located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with hubs at Denver International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, McCarran...
provides airline service with daily flights to Denver.
The Tucumcari Line of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
runs parallel to U.S. 54 northeast-southwest through the city.
- The High Plains Daily Leader, daily
- The Southwest Daily Times, Tuesday-Friday and Sunday
- Liberal Light, weekly
Radio
The following radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from Liberal:AM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | City of License City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1270 | KSCB KSCB (AM) KSCB is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk/information format. Licensed to Liberal, Kansas, USA, the station serves the Southwest Kansas area. The station is currently owned by Seward County Broadcasting Co., Inc. and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks and USA Radio Network.... |
News News Radio News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format.... /Talk Talk radio Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live... |
Liberal, Kansas |
| 1470 | KSMM | Classic Hits Classic hits Classic hits is a radio format which generally includes rock and pop music from 1964 to 1989. The term is sometimes erroneously used as a synonym for the adult hits format, but is more accurately characterized as a contemporary style of the oldies format... |
Liberal, Kansas |
FM
| Frequency | Callsign | Format | City of License City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96.3 | K242AK | Public | Liberal, Kansas | NPR; Translator of KANZ, Garden City, Kansas Garden City, Kansas Garden City is a city in and the county seat of Finney County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,658. The city is home to Garden City Community College and the Lee Richardson Zoo, the largest zoological park in western Kansas.-History:In February 1878, James... |
| 100.5 | K263AQ KKBS -External links:*... |
Rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... |
Liberal, Kansas | Translator of KKBS KKBS -External links:*... , Guymon, Oklahoma Guymon, Oklahoma Guymon is a city in and the county seat of Texas County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,442, making it the largest city on the Oklahoma Panhandle. Corporate hog farms and cattle feedlots dominate its economy.... |
| 101.5 | KSMM-FM | Regional Mexican Regional Mexican Regional Mexican is a radio format for music radio, typically defined to include Banda, Ranchera, Mariachi and Norteña. It is the most popular radio format targeting Hispanic Americans in the United States.... |
Liberal, Kansas | Satellite of KMML, Dodge City, Kansas Dodge City, Kansas Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas, United States. Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340.-History:The first settlement of... |
| 102.7 | KLDG | Country Country music Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music... |
Liberal, Kansas | |
| 105.1 | KZQD KZQD KZQD is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish variety format. Licensed to Liberal, Kansas, USA, the station serves the Southwest Kansas area. The station is currently owned by Mario Loredo.-History:... |
Spanish Variety | Liberal, Kansas | |
| 107.5 | KSCB-FM | Adult Contemporary | Liberal, Kansas | |
Television
Liberal is in the WichitaWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
-Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
television market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. America One
America One
America One is an over-the-air television network in the United States. The network serves over 170 LPTV, Class A, Full Power, Cable and Satellite affiliate stations...
affiliate KLKT-LP is licensed to Liberal and broadcasts on channel 41.
Events
Liberal is famous for its annual Pancake Day race that is held in competition with the town of Olney, England for the fastest time between both cities.Points of interest
Liberal has a water park known as Adventure Bay.The fifth largest collection of civilian
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and military
Military aircraft
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:...
aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
in the United States is located at the Mid-America Air Museum
Mid-America Air Museum
The Mid-America Air Museum is an aerospace and aircraft museum located in Liberal, Kansas, at the Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport.Located within a hangar that formally belonged to Beech Aircraft and on an airfield that served as a B-24 Liberator training base during the Second World War, the...
. Started with a gift of fifty planes by General Tom (Thomas) Welch, Jr., the museum has more than one hundred aircraft.
The Coronado Museum has items from the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
that lived in the area, as well as items from Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
Francisco Vásquez de Coronado y Luján was a Spanish conquistador, who visited New Mexico and other parts of what are now the southwestern United States between 1540 and 1542...
's expedition to the area in 1541, and the history of farming and ranching in the county in more recent times.
Liberal is also home to "The Land of Oz" exhibit from The Wizard Of Oz, a recreation of Dorothy's house and the famed Yellow Brick Road, featuring donated bricks bearing the names of such luminaries as former U.S. Senator Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
, Ronald
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
, and Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
.
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
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
, 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
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
Sports
The Liberal Bee Jays, our 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.In popular culture and the arts
Composer Mark SoMark So
Mark So is an American experimental composer and musician active in Los Angeles, CA. His works, numbering over 500, are mostly text-based and influenced by New York School aesthetics, Fluxus, and the Wandelweiser composers collective.His work has been described as varied and exploring open...
wrote his LIBERAL PLAIN SONG (for Joseph Kudirka) while stopped at a gas station in Liberal in 2005. http://uploaddownloadperform.net/MarkSo/LIBERALPLAINSONG?action=downloadman&upname=LIBERAL%20PLAIN%20SONG.pdf
In the movie National Lampoon's Vacation
National Lampoon's Vacation
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
, Clark W. Griswold mentions departing the route of travel to Liberal to 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.
Notable people
Notable individuals who were born in and/or have lived in Liberal include:- Wayne AngellWayne AngellWayne Angell is an Economist and was Governor of the Federal Reserve Board.-Biography:He graduated from Ottawa University, from the University of Kansas with an M.A. in 1953, and a Ph.D...
, economist - Chris BrownChris Brown (American football coach)Chris Brown is an American football coach and former player. He played for Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, from 1992 to 1995. He became the head coach at Fort Hays State in 2011.-Playing career:...
, college footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach - Wantha DavisWantha DavisWantha Davis is a pioneering American female jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.Born Wantha Lorena Bangs near Liberal, Kansas, she married horse breeder Lendol Davis. After graduating from High School, Ms. Bangs rode a freight train to Texas where she found work in the stables at a thoroughbred...
, horse racing jockey - Kasey HayesKasey HayesKasey Hayes is a professional bull rider on the Professional Bull Riders' Built Ford Tough Series tour. Kasey is one of the few riders to come on tour for the first time and win his first event that same weekend...
, professional bull rider - Kristin KeyKristin KeyKristin Key is an American comedian who has appeared at The Improv and on Last Comic Standing. The daughter of a Christian minister, she favors a self-deprecating style of blue humor in her act....
, comedian - Shalee LehningShalee LehningShalee Lehning is an American basketball player who was selected by the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA in the 2009 WNBA Draft.-High school:...
, Women's National Basketball AssociationWomen's National Basketball AssociationThe Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
guard - Martin LewisMartin Lewis (basketball)Martin Lewis is an American professional basketball player.Lewis, a 6'5" and 210 lb small forward, played competitively with Seward County Community College and Butler County Community College .Lewis was selected 50th overall in the 1995 National Basketball Association Draft by the Golden State...
, National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
forward - Dan MaesDan MaesDaniel B. Maes , is an American businessman and politician of Dutch descent. He was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Colorado gubernatorial election. Maes lives in Evergreen.-Early life, education and career:...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
politician
- Jerrod NiemannJerrod NiemannJerrod Lee Niemann is an American country music artist. Active since 2001, he has recorded two independent albums. In 2006, he signed to Category 5 Records and charted with the single "I Love Women "...
, country music singer/songwriter - Kelli McCartyKelli McCartyKelli McCarty is an American model, actress and adult film performer who was crowned Miss USA in 1991.-Career:McCarty won the Miss USA beauty contest in 1991, competing as Miss Kansas USA...
, Miss USAMiss USAThe Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
, Actress - Melvin SandersMelvin SandersMelvin Sanders is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Menorca Bàsquet. He previously played for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.-Pro career:...
, professional basketball guard/forward - William Stafford, poet
- Doug TerryDoug TerryDouglas Maurice "Doug" Terry is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.-References:...
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
defensive back - Dallas TrahernDallas TrahernDallas Neal Trahern is a professional baseball pitcher.Trahern was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 34th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - Jerame TumanJerame TumanJerame Dean Tuman is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
tight end - Larry D. WelchLarry D. WelchGeneral Larry D. Welch was the 12th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief, he served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of a combined active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian force serving at locations in the United...
, U.S. Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
General
Further reading
- History of the State of Kansas; William G. Cutler; A.T. Andreas Publisher; 1883. (Online HTML eBook)
- Kansas : A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc; 3 Volumes; Frank W. Blackmar; Standard Publishing Co; 944 / 955 / 824 pages; 1912. (Volume1 - Download 54MB PDF eBook),(Volume2 - Download 53MB PDF eBook), (Volume3 - Download 33MB PDF eBook)
External links
CitySchools
- USD 480, local school district
Maps
- Liberal City Map, KDOT
- Seward County Map, KDOT