LIBERAL

city, seat (1892) of Seward county, southwestern Kansas, U.S. It lies just north of the Oklahoma Panhandle. Founded in 1888, it was so named because a local landowner, L.E. Keefes, was liberal in allowing the use of his well in time of drought. The community developed around a railroad terminus serving cattle ranchers. The city now serves as a trading centre for a grain and livestock area. Located at the eastern edge of the Hugoton natural-gas field, its industries include natural-gas and oil extraction, petroleum refining, and beef packing. Gas-pumping plants are in the area. Liberal is the site of Seward County Community College (1969). Inc. 1888. Pop. (1960) 13,813; (1990) 16,573; (1994 est.) 16,949.