Editing Liberty, Texas

{{distinguish|text=[[Liberty City, Texas]], in Gregg County}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Liberty, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_map                = Liberty County Liberty.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Liberty, Texas
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 118.55
| area_land_km2            = 115.31
| area_water_km2           = 3.24
| area_total_sq_mi         = 45.77
| area_land_sq_mi          = 44.52
| area_water_sq_mi         = 1.25
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4842568&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1| title=Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Liberty city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| access-date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>
| population_total         = 8279
| population_density_sq_mi = 209.20
| population_density_km2   = 80.78
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 16
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|03|33.5|N|94|47|45.7|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 77575
| area_code                = [[Area code 936|936]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-42568<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2410832<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410832}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.cityofliberty.org}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Liberty''' is a city in the U.S. state of [[Texas]], within Liberty County. The population was 8,279 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010"/> It serves as the seat of [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty&nbsp;County]].

Liberty is the third oldest city in the state—established in 1831 on the banks of the [[Trinity River (Texas)|Trinity River]]. The city also has a twin of the [[Liberty Bell]] from [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. Its area code is 936 and its ZIP code is 77575.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|35.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|35.0|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}} (1.02%) is water.

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Liberty has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=3557&cityname=Liberty,+Texas,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Liberty, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Liberty, Texas (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =64.0
| Feb high F  =67.1
| Mar high F  =73.5
| Apr high F  =79.3
| May high F  =85.8
| Jun high F  =91.1
| Jul high F  =93.4
| Aug high F  =94.2
| Sep high F  =90.0
| Oct high F  =82.8
| Nov high F  =72.4
| Dec high F  =65.3
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =52.6
| Feb mean F  =56.1
| Mar mean F  =62.5
| Apr mean F  =68.4
| May mean F  =75.6
| Jun mean F  =81.4
| Jul mean F  =83.5
| Aug mean F  =83.8
| Sep mean F  =79.5
| Oct mean F  =70.8
| Nov mean F  =60.8
| Dec mean F  =53.9
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =41.2
| Feb low F  =45.1
| Mar low F  =51.6
| Apr low F  =57.6
| May low F  =65.5
| Jun low F  =71.7
| Jul low F  =73.6
| Aug low F  =73.5
| Sep low F  =68.9
| Oct low F  =58.8
| Nov low F  =49.2
| Dec low F  =42.6
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =5.12
| Feb precipitation inch  =3.90
| Mar precipitation inch  =3.98
| Apr precipitation inch  =4.60
| May precipitation inch  =5.54
| Jun precipitation inch  =6.05
| Jul precipitation inch  =5.02
| Aug precipitation inch  =5.52
| Sep precipitation inch  =6.85
| Oct precipitation inch  =6.34
| Nov precipitation inch  =4.72
| Dec precipitation inch  =5.18
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =0.0
| Feb snow inch  =0.0
| Mar snow inch  =0.0
| Apr snow inch  =0.0
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.0
| Dec snow inch  =0.2
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00415196 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-05 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 584
|1870= 458
|1880= 497
|1900= 865
|1910= 980
|1920= 1117
|1930= 2187
|1940= 3087
|1950= 4163
|1960= 6127
|1970= 5591
|1980= 7945
|1990= 7733
|2000= 8033
|2010= 8397
|2020=8279
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850–1900<ref name=1900CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1920<ref name=1920CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br>
1950<ref name=1950CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1980<ref name=1980CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Liberty racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4842568&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|4,541
|54.85%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,020
|12.32%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|9
|0.11%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|91
|1.1%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|1
|0.01%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|41
|0.5%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|267
|3.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|2,309
|27.89%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''8,279'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 8,279 people, 3,308 households, and 2,421 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 census Liberty had a population of 8,397.  The racial composition of the population was 70.3% white, 13.3% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 13.4% from some other race and 2.1% from two or more races.  23.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 general profile of population and housing characteriticis from the US census for Liberty</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 8,033 people, 2,860 households, and 2,053 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|229.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,187 housing units at an average density of {{convert|90.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.54% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 13.11% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.40% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.01% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 14.83% of the population.

There were 2,860 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,325, and the median income for a family was $41,369. Males had a median income of $33,013 versus $24,688 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,635. About 12.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The city of Liberty is served by the [[Liberty Independent School District]]. All residents are zoned to San Jacinto Elementary School, Liberty Elementary School, Liberty Middle School, and [[Liberty High School (Liberty, Texas)|Liberty High School]].<ref>"[http://www.cityofliberty.org/About/EconomicDevelopment/LCDC_CommunityProfile/LCDC_Education.aspx Education]." City of Liberty. Retrieved on April 5, 2010.</ref>

Dusty McGee is the Superintendent of Schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libertyisd.net/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 |title=Liberty ISD |publisher=Liberty ISD |access-date=July 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722082931/http://www.libertyisd.net/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 }}</ref>

Residents of Liberty ISD are zoned to [[Lee College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.186.  LEE COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA].</ref>

===Public libraries===
The 43,000 volume Liberty Municipal Library is located in the Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center in Liberty. The Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center, including the Humphreys-Burson Theatre which is home to the Valley Players theatrical company, was renovated in a major multimillion-dollar remodeling completed in 2010. The project has doubled the size of the municipal library serving Liberty, Texas and southeastern Liberty County.<ref>"[http://www.cityofliberty.org/Departments/MunicipalLibrary.aspx Liberty Municipal Library]." City of Liberty. Retrieved on July 29, 2010.</ref>

The [[Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center]], operated by the [[Texas State Library and Archives Commission]] is located {{convert|3|mi|km}} north of Liberty in an [[unincorporated area]]. Judge and Mrs. [[Price Daniel]] donated {{convert|114|acres|abbr=on}} of land for the purpose of establishing a library on September 27, 1973. Construction began in the fall of 1975; by then $700,000 had been raised through private donations. The library opened on May 14, 1977.<ref>"[http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/shc/ Sam Houston Center]." [[Texas State Library and Archives Commission]]. Retrieved on April 5, 2010.</ref> Archives and displays show development of region, artifacts, furniture, [[Jean Lafitte]]'s journals, and 1826 census. It also contains the Texana collection of former Governor [[Price Daniel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/10264/tsl-10264.html|title=Texas Attorney-General's Office: An Inventory of Attorney General Price Daniel Records at the Texas State Archives, 1934, 1938-1941, 1944-1962, 1969-1970, 1978, 1986-1987, bulk 1947-1952|website=legacy.lib.utexas.edu|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726043823/https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/10264/tsl-10264.html|archive-date=Jul 26, 2020|access-date=2018-01-31}}</ref>

==Transportation==

[[Liberty Municipal Airport]], a [[general aviation]] airport is located approximately 6 miles east of Liberty, just north of the intersection of FM 160 east with FM 2830. The runway is 3,801&nbsp;ft. long and is oriented 16 – 34 ( 160 degrees – 340 degrees ).
The Liberty Municipal Airport has a pilot courtesy room and fueling facilities with 100LL and Jet-A available. A new set of T-Hangars were completed with room for more in the future. Other major renovations and technology improvements are in progress. A runway extension is planned for the near future. The city provides a courtesy car for transient pilots. Pilots are encourage to check it availability prior to arrival.

Liberty has public transportation service provided by the [[Brazos Transit District]]. The city shares a circulator bus route with the adjacent city of [[Dayton, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.btd.org/liberty-dayton/ | title=Liberty & Dayton Community Circular }}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
The Park Theater was constructed and opened in 1938. This movie house entertained people for years before closing its doors. The theatre sat idle, then in 1993, the John W. Cox family purchased the theater and refurbished the building, reopening it as The Liberty Opry; a live, Branson-style musical entertainment venue. The theater seats 400 and has a building adjoined to the theater with restroom facilities, office, dressing rooms to accommodate the entertainers, and a concession area, which seats 80. The owners have changed over the years. In 2006 John W. Cox sold it to Bruce Boehner, who owned it until he sold it in 2010 to Jay and Nina Cantu who provided weekly shows ranging from Country to Gospel to Rock & Roll every Saturday 4:00 pm. However, as of January 26, 2018, performances have decreased to an average of two shows per month.

The Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center, a {{convert|23000|sqft|sqm}} municipal facility, houses the Liberty Municipal Library and the 153 seat Humphreys-Burson Theatre. The Geraldine D. Humphreys Cultural Center opened and was dedicated on October 18, 1970. The Geraldine D. Humphrey's Cultural Center has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation project completed in 2010, including renovation of the Humphreys-Burson Theater adding new seating, expanded storage space and new carpeting.

==Media==
* The Liberty Vindicator – Serving Liberty and Liberty County since 1887.
* The Liberty Gazette – Liberty County's only home-owned Newspaper since 1960

==Notable people==

* [[Bill Daniel (politician)|Bill Daniel]], Governor of Guam, member of Texas House of Representatives
* [[Vara Martin Daniel]], Educator, First Lady of Guam
* [[Marion Price Daniel, Sr.]], 38th governor of Texas, US senator
* [[Bill Dodd]], Louisiana politician
* [[Bobby Seale]], co-founder of the [[Black Panther Party]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{notelist}}

==Sources==
* {{citation|last=Henson|first=Margaret Swett|title=Juan Davis Bradburn: A Reappraisal of the Mexican Commander of Anahuac|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|location=College Station, TX|year=1982|isbn=978-0-89096-135-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/juandavisbradbur00hens}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* {{Official website|www.cityofliberty.org}}
* [http://www.libertydaytonchamber.com/ Liberty–Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce]
* ''[[Handbook of Texas|The Handbook of Texas Online]],'' article on [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hfl04 Liberty, Texas]

{{Liberty County, Texas}}
{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Liberty County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:1831 establishments in Texas]]