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Liberty, Missouri
Historic Clay County Courthouse in Liberty, Missouri
Historic Clay County Courthouse in Liberty, Missouri
Location in the state of Missouri and in Clay County
Location in the state of Missouri and in Clay County
Country United States
State Missouri
County Clay
Incorporated May 7, 1829 (as a town), 1851 (as a city)
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council-Administrator
Area
 • Total 29.16 sq mi (75.52 km2)
 • Land 29.03 sq mi (75.19 km2)
 • Water 0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Elevation
863 ft (263 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 30,167
 • Density 1,039.09/sq mi (401.19/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
64068, 64069
Area code(s) 816
FIPS code 29-42032
GNIS feature ID 2395700

Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. It is the main city of Clay County. Liberty is also a suburb of Kansas City. It is part of the larger Kansas City Metropolitan Area. In 2020, about 30,167 people lived there. Liberty is also home to William Jewell College.

A Look Back at Liberty's History

WJC Chapel
Gano Chapel at William Jewell College in 2004, after tornado repairs.
Clay-savings
The historic Clay County Savings Association building.
Liberty-jail2
The Historic Liberty Jail museum.

Liberty was first settled in 1822. Soon after, it became the main city for Clay County. The city was named after the American idea of liberty, which means freedom.

In 1830, a lawyer named David Rice Atchison opened his office in Liberty. Three years later, his friend Alexander William Doniphan joined him. They worked on cases to protect the rights of Mormon settlers. They also helped add the Platte Purchase area to Missouri.

Important Events: The Mormon War

In 1838, the governor ordered them to arrest Joseph Smith Jr., who founded the Mormon faith. This happened at the Far West settlement. After a conflict known as the Mormon War, Smith and other Mormon leaders were held at the Liberty Jail. They stayed there through the winter.

Even though Doniphan was part of the group that captured the leaders, he defended Joseph Smith in court. He helped Smith get a new trial location. While on their way to the new location, Smith and his followers escaped. They then left Missouri for a new settlement in Illinois.

Historic Places in Liberty

Many places in Liberty are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include the Clay County Savings Association Building and the Historic Liberty Jail. Other notable places are the Clinton House and Jewell Hall. These sites help tell the story of Liberty's past.

Where Liberty is Located

Liberty is about six miles north of the Missouri River. You can find it along I-35 and Missouri Route 291.

The city covers about 29.15 square miles (75.52 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 29.03 square miles (75.19 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.12 square miles (0.33 square kilometers), is water.

People of Liberty

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 827
1860 1,288 55.7%
1870 1,700 32.0%
1880 1,476 −13.2%
1890 2,558 73.3%
1900 2,407 −5.9%
1910 2,980 23.8%
1920 3,097 3.9%
1930 3,516 13.5%
1940 3,598 2.3%
1950 4,709 30.9%
1960 8,909 89.2%
1970 13,704 53.8%
1980 16,251 18.6%
1990 20,459 25.9%
2000 26,232 28.2%
2010 29,149 11.1%
2020 30,167 3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020

Population in 2020

The 2020 United States census counted 30,167 people living in Liberty. There were 10,816 households and 7,602 families. The city had about 1,039 people per square mile.

About 27.7% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 35.8 years.

Population in 2010

In the census of 2010, there were 29,149 people in Liberty. There were 10,582 households. The population density was about 1,004 people per square mile.

About 26.6% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 36.4 years.

What Liberty Does for Work

Liberty has several important employers. The Hallmark distribution warehouse is a big one. Ferrellgas, a large company that sells propane, has its main office here. B&B Theatres, one of the biggest movie theater chains in the U.S., also has its main office in Liberty.

The Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant is a major employer nearby. It is located in Claycomo.

Top Employers in Liberty

Here are the top employers in Liberty, based on a 2016 report:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Liberty Public Schools 2,109
2 Liberty Hospital 1,400
3 Hallmark Cards 820
4 RR Donnelley 350
5 Clay County 350
6 City of Liberty 325
7 Ferrellgas 263
8 Ford Stamping Plant 256
9 William Jewell 235
10 LMV 185

Learning in Liberty

Liberty has a good education system. The Liberty 53 School District runs ten elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools.

The city also has a public library. It is a part of the Mid-Continent Public Library system.

William Jewell College is located in Liberty. It is a private, four-year college. It was founded in 1849 and has over 900 students.

Famous People from Liberty

Many notable people have connections to Liberty:

  • David Allen – A former American football running back.
  • Ken Boyer – A former baseball player and manager for the St. Louis Cardinals.
  • Greg Canuteson – A former mayor and state representative.
  • James Dewees – A keyboardist and singer for the band The Get Up Kids.
  • Alexander William Doniphan – A general in the Mexican War. He helped protect Joseph Smith.
  • Hubert Eaton – The person who created the famous Forest Lawn cemeteries in California.
  • Shea Groom – A soccer player.
  • Gatewood Lincoln – A former governor of American Samoa.
  • George Rice – A football player.
  • Nick Robinson – A former Stanford Basketball player and college coach.
  • Alex Saxon – An actor known for The Fosters and Finding Carter.
  • Eric Staves – An actor who appeared in Goat and American Horror Story: 1984.
  • Craig Stevens – The star of the 1950s TV show Peter Gunn.
  • Matt Wertz – A soft rock singer and songwriter.

Sister Cities

Liberty has a "twin town" or sister city:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Liberty (Misuri) para niños

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