AMERICA’S smallest town has a remarkable population of just one – and she’s refusing to leave.
Elsie Eiler, the sole resident, is estimated to be 94 years old. Despite her advanced age, she actively fulfills various roles in Monowi, Nebraska, such as serving as the mayor, librarian, and pub owner.
For more than two decades, Elsie has been the town’s only resident – ever since her husband died back in 2004.
But her life as a widow has been far from lonely.
Monowi has become one of Nebraska’s most famous towns due to its single resident.
Born-and-bred in the town, Elsie briefly moved away to Kansas after finding love with US Air Force husband Rudy in the 1950s.
But the pair decided city life wasn’t for them and they travelled back to Monowi, becoming part of its tight knit community.
Monowi is a tiny town occupying just 0.21 square miles, located in Boyd County in the northeastern part of Nebraska. Interestingly, it is situated less than five miles away from the neighboring state of South Dakota.
In the early 70s, it started to lose some locals as less and less people decided to stay and bring up families in the area.
Other issues hampering Monowi’s popularity was the lack of jobs, poor farming conditions, and bigger city development nearby.
At this point, Elsie and Rudy had reopened the Monowi Tavern – the town’s one and only bar.
The hugely popular drinking spot – at least in the eyes of Elsie – soon became the town’s top place to meet up.
By 1980, just 18 people were living in Monowi.
And by the time the 2000 census rolled around, that number had trickled down to just two – Elsie and Rudy.
Then, four years later, Rudy tragically died – leaving only Elsie.
Elsie was essentially given the keys to the town, and it became known as the only incorporated place in the US with just one resident.
She decided to honour her late husband by creating a library in his memory – marking a second public building for Monowi.
As long as I’m able to be here, this is where I really want to be
Elsie Eiler
This meant there were now officially more places to go in the town than people to meet.
Rudy loved his books so Elsie rounded up over 5,000 novels and put them into the brand new “Rudy’s Library” – a 320sqft shed.
As time went by, Elsie continued to take her role as mayor seriously.
Her jobs include renewing licenses and ensuring the town’s lights stay on.
Luckily, securing state funding is relatively simple for Monowi as all Elsie has to do is file her own taxes.
Another fascinating quirk of Monowi is its voting system for who becomes the mayor.
Elsie strongly believes in democracy, allowing locals to nominate themselves for the town’s leadership position, followed by a vote from all residents to determine the next leader.
But, as she is the only person around for miles, Elsie has never faced any competition and has continued to reign supreme for decades.
The fact she files the paperwork each year is the only reason Monowi continues to exist.
She also proudly keeps the Monowi Tavern open for 12 hours a day for any travellers, truck drivers or local farmers to enjoy a drink or two.
The town of Monowi, and I guess to a certain extent myself, we have become kind of a household place
Elsie Eiler
This also allows the proud local to make some cash and meet new friends.
Visitors can try one of her homemade burgers or hotdogs which fall way below the average price across the US.
Hamburgers were just $3.50 – plus an extra 25 cents for cheese – and hot dogs only $1.25 each, as of last year.
Grant Nielsen, a neighbouring fifth-generation rancher, believes the pub is the heartbeat of the town.
He told the New York Times: “It is the community because that’s where you go see neighbours. Elsie is the heart of the community.”
Elsie estimates that about 50 people stop by in the town every day – many opting for a beer as they pass by.
She said: “The bar is the town, and I’m the town.
“We’re all so intermeshed, you can’t quite imagine one without the other.”
Despite being the sole resident of Monowi, Elsie says she has no intention of leaving as she knows when she leaves, the town will likely cease to exist.
She said: “I know I could always move closer to my children or stay with them whenever I want, but then I’d have to make all new friends again.
“As long as I’m able to be here, this is where I really want to be.”
According to Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts, Monowi officially became a town in 1903 after it opened up a post office.
In the 1930s, it flourished with over 100 businesses opening up as the population shot up to more than 120.
As the decades flew by, the town became deserted apart from a few loyal locals.
Today, the town is a shell of its fruitful past.
Walking through the abandoned high street, visitors are welcomed by a run-down schoolhouse and empty church, many vacant homes and overgrown and weedy sidewalks.
Three street lights remain up and running in Monowi alongside the pub and library.
The town’s gradual decline hasn’t ever phased Elsie though as she says Monowi is more famous than ever before since the population became just one.
She told the BBC: “The town of Monowi, and I guess to a certain extent myself, have become kind of a household place.
“People find it interesting or fascinating or something and I have had people that have been here from 42 foreign countries.”
America’s ‘most remote village’
LIFE in America’s most remote village is lonely and tough – yet still people choose to settle there.
Port Alsworth, Alaska, has no bars, restaurants or shops, and food deliveries come by plane just once every two months.
Salina Alsworth, 27, is one the village’s 180 residents and has lived in the isolated community her entire life.
Her grandparents, Babe and Mary Alsworth, moved out there in the 1940s, and her family never left.
She met her husband, Jared Richardson, 25, a fishing guide, when he visited the village as one of its many tourists.
He relocated from Detroit, Michigan, to live work on the resort – and settled in to village life, despite having to fly 200 miles to the nearest city.
Americans were invited to move up to Alaska in the 1940s.
Salina’s great-grandparents both had to prove that they could live self-sufficiently and, in return, the government gave them land to live off.
Residents rely on the nearest city, Anchorage, for supplies, but the extreme weather conditions mean it can be a challenge to reach.
Despite its many challenges, Salina said she has no plans to move and loves the community feel in the village.
Salina said: “This is somewhere I always thought I would live, I just can’t think of living anywhere else.
“Whenever there is an emergency, or if someone goes through something, we are always on hand to help each other out.
“Anytime someone goes to the city, they will reach out asking if anyone needs anything. We are always looking out for each other.”
