North Liberty, Iowa
North Liberty is a city of 21,125 people in Johnson County, Iowa, founded in 1913.
Why visit North Liberty
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 24 parks and trails, 19 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include H.A. White General Store and House, Samuel and Emma A. Ranshaw House, Lake Macbride State Park and Quail Creek Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 15°F.
Weather in North Liberty
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About North Liberty
North Liberty is a city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. It is a suburb of Iowa City and part of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article North Liberty, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks4
H.A. White General Store and House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic building located in North Liberty, Iowa, United States
Samuel and Emma A. Ranshaw House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic building in North Liberty, Iowa, United States
Old State Quarry State Preserve
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds24
Lake Macbride State Park
Park · 4.2 mi
Park in Johnson County, Iowa, United States of America
Liberty Centre Pond
Park · 0.5 mi
Park feature walking trail, pond stocked with fish, bridges, and pedestrian underpass connecting to recreation center.
Beaver Kreek Park
Park · 0.8 mi
Park with new playground equipment in 2016 Updated to boundaries of park
Muddy Creek Preserve
Hiking and trails · 2.3 mi
2850 Muddy Creek Lane, Coralville
12 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes19
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Diner · American · 1.7 mi
105 Crosspark Road
Mo-Su 10:00-21:00
Arby's
Fast food · Sandwich · 1.4 mi
2350 West Penn Street, North Liberty
Mo-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-22:00
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 0.8 mi
725 Pacha Parkway, North Liberty
Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su 10:00-24:00
7 more on the map.
History
The North Liberty area was first settled in 1838 by John Gaylor and Alonzo C. Dennison. It was originally known as "Big Bottom" or "North Bend" (in reference to its location near the bend of the Iowa River) by its earliest settlers and was later known as "Squash Bend" before the city was platted as North Liberty in 1857.
North Liberty incorporated on November 10, 1913, at which time its population was approximately 190.
Population growth accelerated in the 1960s, and the Iowa City Community School District opened Penn Elementary there in 1961. A 1967 special census placed the city's population at 782, and by 1980 the population had grown to over 2,000. In 1984, in response to the population growth, the North Liberty Community Library [1] was founded, and Penn Meadows Park, the city's largest, was opened. By 2000, the population of the city was over 5,000. The city had established its own police and fire departments and built a community center with library and aquatic park, as well as a city administration building. The city has since continued to grow, with a population of 7,224 in a 2004 special census. In 2007, the population was estimated to be 10,982, making North Liberty the second fastest-growing city in Iowa. According to the 2010 U.S. census the population of North Liberty had increased to 13,374.
From the History section of North Liberty, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship7
North Liberty Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.5 mi
85 North Jones Boulevard, North Liberty
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries25
Healthcare2
Map of North Liberty
92 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 1.0 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 1.2 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 73°F | 52°F | 4.5 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 5.3 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.9 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 20°F | 1.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Iowa City Muni Ap (8 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
Johnson County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-08-17: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-08-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-05-31: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Iowa City Municipal Airport (IOW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Coralville 3 mi south, about 5 min by car
- Tiffin 4 mi southwest, about 6 min by car
- Iowa City 7 mi southeast, about 12 min by car
- University Heights 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Solon 7 mi northeast, about 12 min by car
- Swisher 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Ely 10 mi north, about 15 min by car
- West Branch 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Fairfax 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
- Cedar Rapids 16 mi north, about 25 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
- North Liberty old downtown, American007 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Image Ranshaw House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- White General Store, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
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