A Southwest Kansas city in the Golden Triangle of Meatpacking
The city of Liberal, Kansas, sits on the topside of the Oklahoma panhandle, just over the border. Surrounded by the countryside of Seward County, the city and its economy are driven by agriculture. The National Beef Packing plant, its largest employer, puts the city in the Golden Triangle of Meatpacking. “Liberal, Garden City and Dodge City are the three big towns in an otherwise empty region,” says Steven Sitz, a reference librarian at Liberal Memorial Library who has lived in the city since 2000. “All three of us have the biggest industry of meatpacking plants in the state.”
Though there are around 19,000 residents today, Liberal started with just one. In the 1870s, Seymour S. Rogers was known for giving weary travelers free water as they passed through. Their common response — “That’s very liberal of you” — gave the city its name. In 1888, the Rock Island Railroad drew many Mexican workers. Their culture remains prevalent today, with about 68% of residents being of Latino descent. “When you speak two languages in this town, you’re never out of a job,” Sitz says.
Liberal is a small town located in Kansas along the Oklahoma border.
The National Beef Packing Plant is the largest employer in Liberal.
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Liberal averages one home sold per month
Homes in Liberal rarely hit the market, averaging one home sold per month. The median sale price is $138,000, with ranch-style houses making up the vast majority of homes throughout the city, most built in the early to mid-1900s. The city’s oldest homes are closer downtown, many sitting on century-old brick streets.
Ranch styled homes make up much of the housing stock in Liberal.
Most homes in Liberal are single-story dwellings.
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Racing on International Pancake Day
International Pancake Day is one of the city’s most beloved traditions. “Here, it’s a holiday,” says Sitz. “Everything shuts down for Pancake Day, including the schools and county offices.” Liberal and the English city of Olney compete against each other in a race that features women running while holding a skillet with a pancake. The city’s Mexican culture is celebrated during Cinco de Mayo and the annual crowning of the Cinco de Mayo Queen. As a museum dedicated to "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz replicates Dorothy's home from the movie and celebrates Ozfest twice a year.
Visit a replica of Dorthy's house in Liberal.
Tortilleria Tapacolmes is one of several Mexican shops and restaurants in Liberal.
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Arkalon Park brings life to a nearby ghost town
Light Park is notable for its Adventure Bay Family Water Park. Liberal also maintains Arkalon Park, about 12 miles away from city limits. It’s in the ghost town of Arkalon, which became uninhabited in the 1920s following floods from the Cimarron River. Flooding is no longer an issue as irrigation has caused the water to dry up. “Out here, a river just means a dry riverbed,” Sitz says.
Enjoy some camping in Liberal at Arkalon Park.
Take an afternoon walk through Light Park in Liberal.
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Mexican restaurants all over the city
Kansas Avenue is the city’s main commercial corridor. Shopping centers with big-box retailers can be found on the north and south ends of Kansas Avenue, while downtown is at the center with local shops and restaurants. Kansas Avenue intersects with Pancake Boulevard, named in honor of International Pancake Day and lined with even more retailers and restaurants. Mexican food is a mainstay in Liberal, where there are dozens of Mexican restaurants and grocery stores to choose from.
El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant is a popular restaurant in Liberal.
Find new furniture for your Liberal Home in the downtown shopping district.
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Education through Liberal USD 480
Liberal Unified School District 480 earns a C grade from Niche. Students are divided between five elementary and two middle schools before merging into one student body at Liberal High School. Fellowship Baptist Academy earns a B-minus and is the city’s only private school. It serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Students can continue their education at Seward County Community College to earn associate degrees and professional certificates.
Students can continue their education at Seward County Community College in Liberal.
Liberal High school is part of the USD 480.
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Public transportation by City Bus
City Bus is a public shuttle bus system with three routes around Liberal. Drivers can take U.S. Route 54 over 200 miles east to Wichita or 160 miles south to Amarillo. The Liberal Mid-American Regional Airport offers flights via United Express to Denver, where travelers can catch a connecting flight.
A city in Tornado Alley
Crime statistics for Liberal are not readily available. The city is in Tornado Alley, a Midwest region with high tornado activity between March and June. Because of this, many houses are built with basements, known to be one of the safest places in a home during severe weather. The most recent tornado was in 2023, which caused no injuries or property damage.
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