[6][7] It is located in southwest Kansas, along U.S. Route 54 highway, near the Kansas-Oklahoma state line.

[12] Liberal has a semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) characterized by hot, dry summers, cool, dry winters, and large diurnal temperature variation year-round; relative humidity averages 63%.

The beef industry (ranches, feed lots and packing plants) is Liberal's largest source of employment.

Hard winter wheat, corn, milo, alfalfa and cotton are common crops.

The three industries employing the largest percentages of the working civilian labor force were: manufacturing (24.4%); educational services, health care, and social assistance (19.4%); and retail trade (10.5%).

[31] According to Liberal's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top 10 employers in the city are:[34] Liberal is famous for its annual Pancake Day race that is held in competition with the town of Olney, United Kingdom for the fastest time between both cities.

The fifth largest collection of civilian and military aircraft in the United States is located at the Mid-America Air Museum.

Started with a gift of fifty planes by General Tom (Thomas) Welch, Jr., the museum has more than one hundred aircraft.

[36] The Coronado Museum has items from the Native Americans that lived in the area, as well as items from Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's expedition to the area in 1541, and the history of farming and ranching in the county in more recent times.

[37] Liberal is home to "The Land of Oz" exhibit from The Wizard of Oz, a recreation of Dorothy Gale's house and the famed Yellow Brick Road, featuring donated bricks bearing the names of former U.S.

Senator Bob Dole, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, and Liza Minnelli (Judy Garland's daughter).

This exhibit was originally designed and displayed for Topeka in 1981, but relocated here eleven years later by its creator Linda Windler.

[38] Liberal Memorial Library is located on North Kansas Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets in Cooper Park.

The Book Front entrance was completed in April 1955 and designed by the building's architect George L. Pitcher.

Wheeler Williams, a sculptor from New York, signed an agreement in October 1960 to mold the "Pioneer Mother of Kansas."

This six foot statue, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. D. K. Baty, was to be erected in Cooper Park on Memorial Day, May 30, 1961.

It was placed opposite of the "Statue of Liberty," which was donated and placed in Cooper Park by the Boy Scouts of America.

[39] Liberal has a commission-manager government with a city commission consisting of five members elected at-large.

The Leader & Times is the city's main daily newspaper, published six days a week.

[45] The publisher of the Leader & Times also prints a weekly Spanish language paper, El Lider.

[46] Seward County Community College publishes a bi-weekly student newspaper, the Crusader.

[48] Liberal is a center of broadcast media for southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

In addition, Liberal is the western terminus of U.S. Route 270 which runs concurrently with U.S. 83 south from the city.

[56] The City Bus provides fixed-route and dial-a-ride transit services Monday through Friday.