Liberal Wedding

Liberal is a city in Seward County, Kansas, United States. The population was 19,666 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Seward CountyGR6.

S. S. Rogers built the first house in what would become Liberal in 1872. Rogers would give water to travelers, who in turn told him something to the effect, 'that is very liberal of you.' In 1885 Rogers built a general store, and with it came an official U.S. Post Office, which needed a name. Rogers named the post office 'Liberal'. After the railroad was built close by, a plat for the town site was created in 1888. A year later the population was around 800.

Drought would cause some farmers to give up and look for more fertile territory. When the Indian Territory was opened, more settlers headed to the cheap land that would become Oklahoma.

Gas was discovered west of town, in what would become part of the massive Panhandle-Hugoton Gas Field, in 1920. Oil would be discovered southwest of town in 1951. In 1963 the largest helium plant in the world, National Helium, was opened.

Liberal is located at 37236N, 1005541W (37.043418, -100.928133)GR1.