Liberty, Missouri was settled in 1822, and shortly after became the county seat of Clay County, Missouri. It is one of the largest suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2000 census the population was 26,232 and Liberty covered a total area of 28.9 square miles.

Liberty operates under a Mayor-City Council-Administrator form of government. The mayor is elected at large for a two-year term and city council members are elected to four-year terms from each of the City’s four wards. The day-to-day operations of city government are handled by a professional staff led by the City Administrator.

The Clay County Commission is also a council-manager form of government consisting of the county administrator and 3 elected commissioners: one for the eastern district, one for the western district, and one presiding commissioner elected at large. Liberty is represented by the Eastern County Commissioner. Many of the County offices are run by directly elected officials who do not officially report to the county commission.