Did You Know…The Smallest Town in The World Has Just 1 Resident
Wait What?!
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If you thought that the city where you live was small, welcome to Monowi, Nebraska where the only resident is a bartender, clerk, secretary, librarian, tax collector and even the Mayor.
Yes, you read it right, there is just one person living in the smallest city in the world, the 90-year-old Elsie Eiler, and she is the only reason why the city still exists as she files the required country and state paperwork each year other than paying taxes to herself.
Monowi is located 4 miles from the South Dakota border and 60 miles from the nearest supermarket.
Although it was never known to be a large city, it was certainly more lively in the past with its 150 residents. There were stores, restaurants, and even a prison. Over time, everyone migrated to bigger cities, leaving the poor Elsie alone.
Elsie, after the death of her husband in 2004, manages the town’s three buildings alone: a house, a library, and a tavern.
The tavern which her family has run since 1971, is open 6 days a week, and it represents the town’s biggest attraction and one of the last gathering places for the country’s residents. There you can find some spectacular burgers made by Elsie herself while enjoying a beer.
Although she may seem lonely, she finds companionship through the many customers who frequent her tavern. Sadly, it won’t last forever.
When Elsie is gone, Monowi is likely to be wiped off the map.
“The bar is the town, and I’m the town,” she said.
“We’re all so intermeshed; you can’t quite imagine one without the other.”¹
Lately, Elsie has become quite a star, and there are plenty of videos of her online. People travel from other states to Monowi simply to talk to her. She has stressed multiple times that she loves Monowi and will never leave!
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References:
[1]: Jennifer Newton. Mail Online (March 1, 2018) Welcome to America’s smallest town, population — 1: Monowi’s only resident is the mayor, treasurer, librarian, and bartender. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-5445903/Welcome-Monowi-Americas-smallest-town-population-1.html
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