North Liberty, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Liberty, Iowa
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North Liberty
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Location of North Liberty, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Iowa |
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| County | Johnson | |
| Incorporated | 1913 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-manager government | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.12 sq mi (23.62 km2) | |
| • Land | 9.12 sq mi (23.62 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 781 ft (238 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,479 | |
| • Density | 2,245.26/sq mi (866.88/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
52317
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| Area code(s) | 319 | |
| FIPS code | 19-57360 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0465945 | |
| Website | http://www.northlibertyiowa.org/ | |
North Liberty is a city in Johnson County, Iowa. It's like a smaller town near Iowa City, and it's part of the bigger Iowa City area.
In 2020, about 20,479 people lived there. Between 2000 and 2010, North Liberty grew really fast! It was the second fastest-growing city in all of Iowa. A study in 2017 even said North Liberty was one of the smartest cities in the U.S. and the smartest in the Midwest!
Contents
History of North Liberty
North Liberty was first settled in 1838 by John Gaylor and Alonzo C. Dennison. People first called the area names like "Big Bottom" or "North Bend." This was because it was near a bend in the Iowa River. Later, it was even called "Squash Bend" before it officially became North Liberty in 1857.
The city officially became a town on November 10, 1913. Back then, only about 190 people lived there. The city started growing much faster in the 1960s. In 1961, Penn Elementary School opened for students. By 1980, the population had grown to over 2,000 people.
As more people moved in, new services were added. In 1984, the North Liberty Community Library opened. Also, Penn Meadows Park, the city's biggest park, was created. By the year 2000, over 5,000 people lived in North Liberty. The city had its own police and fire departments. It also built a community center with a library and a water park.
North Liberty has kept growing. In 2007, it was estimated that 10,982 people lived there. This made it the second fastest-growing city in Iowa again. By 2010, the population had reached 13,374 people.
Where is North Liberty?
North Liberty is located at 41°44′35″N 91°36′28″W / 41.74306°N 91.60778°W.
The city covers about 9.12 square miles (23.62 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
North Liberty is on a flat area called the Iowan erosion surface. If you drive on I-380 south of North Liberty, you will notice the land changes. It goes from flat to rolling hills.
People in North Liberty
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1920 | 171 | — |
| 1930 | 161 | −5.8% |
| 1940 | 282 | +75.2% |
| 1950 | 309 | +9.6% |
| 1960 | 334 | +8.1% |
| 1970 | 1,055 | +215.9% |
| 1980 | 2,046 | +93.9% |
| 1990 | 2,926 | +43.0% |
| 2000 | 5,367 | +83.4% |
| 2010 | 13,374 | +149.2% |
| 2020 | 20,479 | +53.1% |
| Source:
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 20,479 people living in North Liberty. There were 7,897 households, which are groups of people living together. The city had about 2,245 people per square mile.
Most people in North Liberty were White (81.1%). Other groups included Black or African American (6.5%), Asian (3.0%), and Native American (0.2%). About 6.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (39.7%) had children under 18 living with them. The average age in the city was 31.7 years old. About 30.9% of residents were under 20 years old. Most residents were between 25 and 44 years old (37.5%). The population was almost evenly split between males (48.7%) and females (51.3%).
Schools in North Liberty
Most students in North Liberty go to schools in the Iowa City Community School District. However, some areas, like west of Jones Boulevard, are part of the Clear Creek–Amana Community School District.
Here are some of the public schools that serve students from North Liberty:
- From the Iowa City Community School District:
- Buford Garner Elementary
- Penn Elementary
- Van Allen Elementary
- Christine Grant Elementary
- North Central Junior High
- Liberty High (North Liberty)
- West High (Iowa City)
- From the Clear Creek–Amana Community School District:
- North Bend Elementary
- Clear Creek–Amana Middle School (in Tiffin)
- Clear Creek–Amana High School (in Tiffin)
- Oak Hill Elementary (in Tiffin)
A study in 2017 ranked North Liberty as the 9th most educated city in the U.S. It was the only city in the top 10 that is not near an ocean. This study looked at how many people had advanced degrees. It suggested that cities with many educated people often have good jobs and excellent schools.
City Services
North Liberty has a modern system for treating its wastewater. This system uses advanced technology to clean the water. It can clean over 2 million gallons of water every day. The clean water is then released into Muddy Creek.
VLBA Node
North Liberty is home to a special radio telescope. It is located northeast of the city on Mehaffey Bridge Road. This telescope is one of ten dishes that make up the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). The VLBA is a huge system of telescopes that works together to study space.
Notable Person
- Jean Prahm, an Olympic bobsledder, is from North Liberty.
See also
In Spanish: North Liberty (Iowa) para niños
