Spook Hall · Library of Congress
Liberal’s story
146 years in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1880Liberal is settled
- 2004MOMap-doton-Liberal
LiberalMO
A town of 747, settled in 1880. A typical home worth about $206K.
Photo: Public domain · Public domain
Population
747
−17.1% since 2010
Typical home
$206K
+3.7% in a year
Household income
$65K
median
Median age
45.8
years
Jobs based here
158
A commuter town
What makes Liberal stand out
The thing Liberal does most differently from other towns.
Small town
747 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Liberal’s report card
Now in Liberal
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Liberal. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Liberal
Most working residents leave Liberal for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are Pittsburg (12%), Lamar (9%) and Joplin (6%). Half commute less than 27 miles.
8%work in town
Where working residents work
In Liberal8%
Pittsburg12%
Lamar9%
Joplin6%
Springfield5%
27 mi
median commute distance
158
jobs based in Liberal
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities.
76risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
A typical Liberal home is worth about $206K
The typical Liberal home is worth about $206,000, up 3.7% in a year, 23% below the Missouri typical home.
$206KZillow home value
Typical home value
Liberal$206K
Missouri$268K
+3.7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Liberal has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 7 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
7″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–46°
Spring46–68°
Summer67–88°
Fall48–70°
Oct 24
typical first frost
Apr 6
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Liberal
4 crimes were reported in Liberal in 2025: 4 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Liberal is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
4
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Liberal is
Liberal beats the Missouri average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5.
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better27 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Liberal | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.9% | 15.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.2% | 8% |
| More smokers | 19.9% | 16% |
Cox Barton County Hospital
12.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
0% of Liberal is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 543 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Liberal City Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Liberal for work
Where Liberal’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
158jobs based in Liberal
8%of working residents work in town
27 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Liberal
3 notable people were born in Liberal.
About Liberal
City in Missouri, United States
Liberal is a city in Barton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 629 at the 2020 census. Liberal was founded as an atheist utopia in 1880 by George Wasler, who named it after the Liberal League in nearby Lamar. The city had restrictions on both religious buildings and saloons, instead offering intellectual pursuits. A contingent of Christian residents moved to the town and began holding religious services against Walser's wishes, and eventually took hold of the settlement.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1880
- Population
- 629
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 902 ft
- ZIP code
- 64762
- Area code
- 417
More about Liberal
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