Liberal (Kansas)

Seward County

20-39825

Liberal is a city in Seward County in the U.S. state of Kansas. It has 19 666 inhabitants ( 2000) and is located on 864 meters above the sea.

In 1882 the first settlers established themselves in the territory of the later Liberal. 1885 the first department store was opened the same year was followed by a post office and the place got its present name. Having developed in the following years Seward County by the railroad, grew the interest to settle in this region. To 1888, the site had already about 800 inhabitants. At this time, Liberal was primarily agricultural. 1920 natural gas was discovered west of the city, southwest petroleum in 1951.

There is a museum with a collection of various military and civilian aircraft. Another attraction is the Samson Bridge, which was built in 1939 to cross the Cimarron River with the railroad.

In the Liberal Seward County Community College is also home.