Population
North Liberty's population remained around 300 until the 1960s, when it reached near 800. In 1981, the population was at 2,046. The 2000 census reported the population of North Liberty at 5,367. The recent Special Census showed North Liberty's population had increased to 7,211 as of April 1, 2004. Please click here to view a complete demographic breakdown of the North Liberty population, provided by the Iowa State University Department of Economics.

Industrial & Commercial
North Liberty, with the assistance of area development groups (like ICAD and Priority One), has taken an active role in attracting business and industry. We offer tax incentive programs and help make state and local funding available to companies who wish to locate in North Liberty. More than 700 manufacturing jobs are now available in our community. The market for commercial and retail positions has improved as well. There are over 200 active businesses in North Liberty, ranging in operation from cottage industries to large manufacturers.

Education
Elementary students in North Liberty attend Penn or Kate Wickham elementary schools. Most of the City limits are in the Iowa City Community School District, but children west of Jones Boulevard attend school in the Clear Creek Amana School District. Older students attend Northwest Junior High and West High School in Iowa City. Busing is also available to Regina elementary and high school, a parochial school in Iowa City. There are other small, private schools throughout the county. Click here for links to more information on local school options.

The University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College, Coe College and other area colleges are within convenient commuting distance from North Liberty. These highly recognized institutions offer a variety of educational and specialized vocational training programs.

Cultural
In 1986 North Liberty opened its first library in the CIty Hall building. In 1996 the Community Center was built and the Library is now housed in 6,600 square foot section of this building. The Community Center's Recreation Department offers a variety of informative craft and leisure classes in addition to sports leagues and fitness programs.

North Liberty's proximity to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids means that a variety of theater, art, dance, music and other cultural events are only a few minutes away. Venues like the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids and Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City attract world-class performances to the area.

Transportation

North Liberty is located within two miles of Interstate 80 and is located on Interstate 380, known as the Avenue of the Saints, within minutes of the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids metro areas.

The CRANDIC Railway runs through town and provides access to the national railway system.

The Eastern Iowa Airport, located just south of Cedar Rapids, is a convenient 15-minute drive from North Liberty.

The Johnson County Mulitmodal Transportation Master Plan forecasts transportation issues from 2002 through 2027.

Click here for more information about transportation planning in North Liberty.

Recreation
The North Liberty Community Center houses 19,000 square feet of recreation area. Facilities include a full-size gymnasium, game room, walking/running track, kitchen and meeting rooms. Recreation programs and a variety of community events make this facility a gathering place for citizens of all ages.

In April 2002, North Liberty voters approved a bond referendum to build an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, and a second gymnasium on the Community Center site. These facilities are expected to open in 2004-2005. Please click here for information on the Community Center Phase II Expansion.

The parks in North Liberty provide facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, horseshoes and more. Many parks include picnic tables or shelters and children's playground equipment.

North Liberty is just a few miles away from Coralville Lake, Lake MacBride State Park, the MacBride Nature Recreation Area and F.W. Kent Park.

Quail Creek Golf Course, located on Highway 965, is a public, nine-hole golf course.

Health Care
North Liberty residents can take advantage of medical, dental, chiropractic, pharmacy and vision services right in town. Please click here for the business directory on North-Liberty.com.

There are five hospitals within ten miles of North Liberty. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is the largest public teaching hospital in the United States and is the tertiary care hospital for the State of Iowa. Mercy Medical Center is located in Cedar Rapids, as is St. Luke's Hospital. Iowa City is home to Mercy Hospital. There is also a Veterans Administration Medical Center in Iowa City.

Police, Fire and Ambulance
North Liberty added a community police department in 1999. The force now consists of three full-time and one-part time officer. These officers provide proactive crime prevention and community service programs. The police department has three squad cars to assist in their activities. Please click here to go to the police department's page.

Housing
North Liberty has demonstrated a commitment to provide a mix of housing types for our residents. A range of housing is available, with condominiums starting around $95,000. Single family homes generally cost $100,000 to $300,000, with some more expensive homes near the edges of our city and in the historic Old Town.

There is a variety of rental property available, competitively priced with surrounding communities. North Liberty also hosts a high-end manufactured housing district, complete with storm shelter and neighborhood playgrounds.

Municipal Utilities
The City owns and operates water and wastewater utilities in North Liberty. The current wastewater treatment facility was constructed in 1998, with a capacity to accommodate future growth for several years. Visit the Wastewater Department's webpage here.

The North Liberty water treatment plant was upgraded in 2002 to include city-wide water softening and enhanced filtration. Click here if you would like more information from the North Liberty Water Department.

Public Utilities
Two electric companies serve the City of North Liberty: Alliant Energy and Linn County Rural Electric Cooperative. Natural gas is provided by MidAmerican Energy.

South Slope Cooperative Telephone Company provides state-of-the-art telephone service, high-speed internet service and a video conference center. South Slope is constructing a new headquarter building for their company in North Liberty on North Front Street.

Mediacom provides cable television to North Liberty residents. Mediacom also offers digital cable and high-speed data services. North Liberty has a very active local access channel. Click here to learn about the access channel.

For additional information, please contact:

North Liberty Development
PO Box 122
North Liberty, Iowa  52317

Phone: (319) 626-1964
E-mail: NLD@northlibertyiowa.org