The Resilient Lone Resident of America’s Smallest Incorporated Town
She insists she is not alone
In Northern Nebraska, you find America’s smallest incorporated town. And, the town has a population of one official resident, an eighty-seven-year-old sweet lady called Elsie Eiler. Eiler is the town’s mayor, librarian and also runs the only tavern in the town.
After arriving in the town, you would notice how it’s mostly peaceful and quiet. There are three functional buildings. One of them is Eiler’s house, and the others are a library and the tavern.
How Monowi ended up with one official resident?
In 1902, the town of Monowi was founded. The town thrived mainly on farming, livestock rearing on top of being a railroad town. By 1930, the population of Monowi grew up to over a hundred people.
The town had its own schools, post office, church, and even grocery stores, etc. But, in 1978, the railroad closed. So, the farming activities were negatively impacted. All the other activities in Monowi followed suit.
One by one, the grocery stores in Monowi started closing down, and most schools were combined. Little by little, people left Monowi until when there was only one resident. Her name is Elsie Eiler.
