In a remote town in the heartland of the American Midwest, a 90-year-old resident named Elsie Eiler serves as the location’s mayor, clerk, treasurer, bartender, and librarian
A once-thriving town in the US heartland is now considered the smallest in the entire country
(Image: Google)
A town that once buzzed with life now holds the title of the world’s smallest by population – with just one person calling it home. Nestled in America’s heartland, in the ‘Cornhusker State’, sits Monowi, which boasts the remarkable status of being the least populated incorporated village in the US.
Tucked away in northern Nebraska, merely five miles from the South Dakota border, Monowi’s sole inhabitant is 90-year-old Elsie Eiler, who juggles roles as mayor, clerk, treasurer, bartender, and librarian.
Back in its heyday, Monowi was what the BBC called a “bustling stop on the Elkhorn Railroad” and was home to 150 residents, complete with eateries and even a prison.
Following World War II, though, farming conditions worsened and rural economies took a battering, with American communities disappearing – a fate Monowi seemingly couldn’t avoid.
Over time, local amenities closed down, including grocery stores, the post office, and the school. By 1980, the population had dwindled to just 18 people and, 20 years on, only two remained – Elsie and her husband Rudy, who ran the local tavern.
Tragically, Rudy passed away in 2004, leaving Elsie as the town’s sole resident. The settlement now features in the Guinness World Records as the word’s least populated town.
In a clip shared on Instagram, user Seph Lawless dropped in on Elsie and captured a brief chat for his channel. In the caption, he penned: “In a town with a population of one, I stood face to face with Elsie Eiler – the last resident of Monowi, Nebraska.
“She lives alone in a town that once thrived – now a ghost echoing her memories. Meeting Elsie reminded me that sometimes, the strongest souls dwell in the quietest places.
“This is the story of the last heartbeat of America’s smallest town. One woman. One town. A thousand stories.”
A magnet for curious visitors, the sole establishments still operating are the Monowi Tavern and the poignantly named Rudy Eiler Memorial Library.
Back in 2020, when Elsie was 84, the BBC disclosed that she would put up a notice in the tavern calling for mayoral elections, then simply cast her ballot for herself.
At the time, it was noted that despite the town’s emptiness, folk would still come to her tavern, including her loyal patrons who travelled from 20 to 30 miles away. She told the broadcaster: “It’s like one big family.
“There are fourth and fifth-generation customers coming in. It’s pretty neat when the people you remember as babies are now bringing their babies in to show me.”
When Seph enquired whether she was actually the town mayor, a bemused Elsie highlighted that there was “no one else” and she had to “account for budget”, though she admitted it “doesn’t amount to much”.
In more poignant remarks, she explained that she’d likely remain in the town until they “carry me out”, and once the population dwindles to zero, Monowi would become just “another little place” on the road.