Liberal, Kansas, Crossroads of Commerce, is situated at the intersection of US-54 and US-83. Highway 83 is the North/South corridor connecting Canada to Mexico and is the only NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) trade route. Located in Seward County in Southwest Kansas, it has a population of 22,510 (Census 2000). Seward is the fifth fastest growing county in the state. The average temperature is a mild 55 degrees with an annual rainfall of 19 inches and a scant 8 inches of snowfall.

Founded in 1885, Liberal was named for early day settlers who were “liberal” with their scarce supply of water. Strategically located in the heart of the Great Plains, its trading area covers the corners of five states. The Liberal Airport serves commercial, freight and private aircraft traffic. Communities included in Liberal's Trade Area include numerous cities in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Texas.

In 1920, gas was discovered west of Liberal on what was to become the vast Hugoton Gas Field, the largest gas reserve in the world. In early 1951, oil was discovered southwest of the town. During exploration, two layers of gas production were discovered, extending life expectancy of gas in this area into the next century. Along with other resources of oil, sand and gravel, the value of total production is over $40 million annually.

The largest employer is National Beef Packing. There are also four industrial parks in place and companies such as Mobile Oil, Oxy USA, Anadarko Petroleum, High Plains Pizza, National Helium and National Carriers have chosen Liberal, KS as a base for their operations. The city has many incentives in place to catch the attention of new businesses.

There are many attractions in and around town. One of the largest draws is Dorothy's House, made famous by Frank Baum who wrote “The Wizard of Oz”. It mimics the house in the movie, complete with period furnishings, coal lamps and other memorabilia. Ozfest is a celebration held each October and some of the original Munchkins join Liberal’s salute to Oz. A parade, a carnival, a craft fair and other events make Ozfest a day to remember. There’s also Pancake Day, a three day celebration that includes eating and flipping contests, a race, musical programs and craft displays. The Miss Liberal pageant is also held then.

More than forty eating establishments in town offer a variety of cuisine, and there are thirteen city parks with a total of 86 acres. Camping, hiking and other outdoor sports are available within a reasonable distance of Liberal.

Seward County Community College located in Liberal offers a variety of courses and degrees. Southwest Kansas Technical Institute offers fifteen programs of study ranging from auto body repair to medical assistant.

Liberal, Kansas is a splendid mid-size community. Founded on the concepts of sharing, blessed with the magic of Oz, this is a crossroads city fully expecting the rewards of progress.

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