Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city of 30,689 people in Clay County, Missouri, founded in 1822.
Why visit Liberty
Townapedia lists 25 museums and landmarks, 40 parks and trails, 128 places to eat, 16 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include B&B Theaters Liberty Cinema 12, Liberty Bend Bridge, Arthur-Leonard Historic District and Atkins-Johnson Farmhouse Property.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 17°F.
Weather in Liberty
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Liberty
Liberty is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, Missouri, United States and is a suburb of Kansas City, located in the Kansas City Metro Area. As of the 2020 United States census the population was 30,167. Liberty is home to William Jewell College and the historic Liberty Jail.
From the Wikipedia article Liberty, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
B&B Theaters Liberty Cinema 12
Cinema and theater · 1.6 mi
12 Screens
1903 Victory Drive, Liberty
Liberty Bend Bridge
Bridge · 5.2 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Worlds of Fun
Monument and historic site · 5.8 mi
Amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Museums and landmarks25
Arthur-Leonard Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
United States historic place
Atkins-Johnson Farmhouse Property
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.3 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
Clay County Savings Association Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Bank building in Missouri, United States of America
Clinton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Missouri, United States
Dougherty–Prospect Heights Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Liberty, Missouri
Dr. James Compton House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
Frank Hughes Memorial Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
Garrison School Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
IOOF Liberty Lodge No. 49
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Missouri, United States of America
Jewell Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic building located on the campus of William Jewell College at Liberty, Clay County, Missouri
Jewell-Lightburne Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Liberty, Missouri, United States
Miller Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Missouri, United States
13 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds40
SubTropolis
Park · 6.3 mi
Artificial cave in the bluffs above the Missouri River in Kansas City, MO, US
Claywoods/Clay Meadows Park
Park · 1.0 mi
1010 Claywoods Parkway, Liberty
06:00-22:00
Hodge Park
Park · 4.3 mi
9598 Northeast Reinking Road, Kansas City
Mo-Su 05:00-24:00
Shoal Creek Living History Museum
Sports field and stadium · 4.4 mi
7000 Northeast Barry Road, Kansas City
28 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes128
Longboards Wraps and Bowls
Diner · American · 1.1 mi
1173 West Kansas Street, Liberty
Su 11:00-15:00,Mo-Fr 11:00-20:30; Sa 11:00-20:00
Aromatic Nepal
Restaurant · Nepalese, Indian · 1.2 mi
322 South 291 Highway, Liberty
Tu-Su 11:00-21:00
Baskin-Robbins
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 1.8 mi
118 North Conistor Street, Liberty
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-23:00
Buffalo Wild Wings
Restaurant · Wings · 2.6 mi
9207 Northeast Highway 152, Kansas City
Su-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00
Conrad's
Diner · American · 1.4 mi
210 North State Route 291, Liberty
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 2.2 mi
8225 North Church Road, Kansas City
Su-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00
Fifth & Emery
Ice cream · Frozen Yogurt · 3.0 mi
8375 North Booth Avenue, Kansas City
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Holy Grounds Coffee and Book Shoppe
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 mi
342 North Water Street, Liberty
Mo-Sa 07:00-17:00
Hunan Garden
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.2 mi
1170 West Kansas Street, Liberty
Tu-Th 10:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-21:30; Su 10:30-21:00
La Costa Mexicana
Restaurant · Mexican
5 East Kansas Street, Liberty
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:30-20:30
116 more on the map.
History
Liberty was settled in 1822, and shortly later became the county seat of Clay County. The city was named for the American concept of liberty.
In 1830, David Rice Atchison established a law office in Liberty. He was joined three years later by colleague Alexander William Doniphan. The two argued cases defending the rights of Mormon settlers in Jackson County, served Northwest Missouri in Missouri's General Assembly, and labored for the addition of the Platte Purchase to Missouri's boundaries.
In October 1838, the two were ordered by Governor Lilburn Boggs to arrest Mormon founder Joseph Smith Jr. at the Far West settlement in Caldwell County. Immediately after the conclusion of the Mormon War, Smith and other Mormon leaders were incarcerated at the Liberty Jail for the winter as Doniphan labored for a quicker trial date. Although Doniphan led a force of Missouri volunteers ordered to capture the leaders, he defended Joseph Smith in trial and won him a change in venue. While en route to their new venue, Smith and his followers escaped and left Missouri for the new Mormon settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois.
From the History section of Liberty, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay16
Stone-Yancey House Bed and Breakfast (permanently closed)
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
421 Lightburne Street
Churches and places of worship22
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.5 mi
138N North Main Street, Liberty
Liberty United Methodist Church, Rush Creek Campus
Church · United Methodist · 2.1 mi
Shopping29
Gas and EV charging22
Schools, colleges and libraries48
Mid-Continent Public Library - Woodneath Library Center
Library · 2.7 mi
8900 Northeast Flintlock Road, Kansas City
Healthcare15
NextCare Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.2 mi
1860 North Church Road, Liberty
Map of Liberty
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 17°F | 1.3 in | 5.0 in |
| Feb | 43°F | 21°F | 1.6 in | 6.5 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 31°F | 2.5 in | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 41°F | 4.1 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 63°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 67°F | 5.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 64°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 43°F | 3.2 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 31°F | 2.1 in | 0.9 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 22°F | 1.7 in | 4.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kearney 3E (10 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Clay County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2015-08-07: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2011-06-30: Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-02-03: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Gladstone 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Kearney 9 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Kansas City 11 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Independence 11 mi south, about 18 min by car
- Excelsior Springs 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
- Blue Springs 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Kansas City 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Grain Valley 19 mi southeast, about 31 min by car
- Prairie Village 21 mi southwest, about 34 min by car
- Lee's Summit 22 mi south, about 36 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Clay County Missouri Courthouse 20191027-7046, Kbh3rd, CC BY 4.0
- Clinton House, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Liberty Courthouse, Chiefs190, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hunt-Clarke House, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Major Hotel, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hughes Memorial Library, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 202 North Missouri, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 204 East Franklin, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 302 West Kansas, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 400 West Kansas, Liberty, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Garrison School, Liberty MO (October 2018), Firegenie77, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Clay-savings, Americasroof at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Liberty, MO - Odd Fellows Hall, Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Liberty, MO - Miller Bldg, Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ClayCoMo CourtHouse, The original uploader was KHill-LTown at English Wikipedia ., CC BY 2.5
- Atkins-Johnson Farmhouse, Gladstone, MO, 25or6to4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jewell Hall 2, Dennis mccoy mo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jewell Hall 3, Dennis mccoy mo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jewell Hall 5, Dennis mccoy mo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jewell Hall 4, Dennis mccoy mo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jewell Hall 1, Dennis mccoy mo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woodneath 2021 11 21 PA0080i, Robert W. Peterson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mt. Memorial Cemetery, Crewbrom, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Woodneath Home, Jacob Robertson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS066-E-193188 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS066-E-193189 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS015-E-9652 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- NS 8105 Leads WB 21T Intermodal near Missouri City, MO 5-25-20, Tyler Silvest, CC BY 2.0
- Kansas City District Daily Inspection (6003220492), Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain
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