Random Stories about Monowi, NE That Has A Population Of Exactly One (10 items)

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  (#1) It's The Only Incorporated Town With One Person

  Elsie Eiler is the only person living in Monowi, Nebraska. That's an impressive feat on its own, but the fact that Monowi is the only municipality in the country with one person - that's an even bigger deal. It's also one of its perks, holding a record for the only person to inhabit a city or town by yourself! 

  This title also comes with some draws: you become a media frenzy. Eiler apparently doesn't engage with most people who contact her, but a few people are lucky enough to gain some insights on what it's like to be the only person living in a town.
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  (#2) The Town's Library Is Named After Her Late Husband

  Considering that she's the only person in Monowi, it's pretty insane that the town's library holds 5,000 books. But perhaps this has to do with the fact that the library has real sentimental value for Eiler. Named after her husband, Rudy, the library was constructed in 2005 soon after he passed away. It was a dream of his to have a library in Monowi, a dream that Eiler was able to grant.

  "He had lots of books. He read all the time and always wanted to get 'em in one spot," she told CBS News. And despite being the only resident of Monowi, Rudy's Library is a popular destination for people who live in the areas around Monowi. 
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  (#3) Eiler Has Appointed Herself Mayor Of The Tiny Town

  Sole resident means sole ruler. Eiler is the self-appointed mayor of Monowi, a job only she can do, considering there is nobody else to do it. Most towns this small will simply fall into the realm of unincorporated territory, but Eiler did not let that happen. Not only does she serve as the town's mayor, but she also acts as the village clerk, treasurer, and council. 

  Besides making sure that the only resident of Monowi - herself - pays taxes, one of the great things about being mayor is that Eiler produces a municipal road plan annually, which enables her to get state funding for Monowi's four street lights. Eiler states that Monowi's budget is around $500 a year.   
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  (#4) She Owns And Operates The Town Tavern

  There's only one business still operating in Monowi. It's probably pretty easy to guess who runs it.

  Eiler is not only Monowi's only resident, she's also its only business owner. She is the owner and operator of the town's tavern, classically named Monowi Tavern, which she bought with her husband in 1971. 

  One would think, given her relative fame, that most of the tavern's customers would be visiting tourists, but it's actually full of locals, people who have been coming for a long time.
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  (#5) She Granted Herself A Liquor License, Because She Can

  If you've talked to any bar owner or operator in any major city like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, or Chicago, you know that obtaining a liquor license is probably your biggest obstacle. They cost thousands and thousands of dollars and are the only way you can legally sell liquor.

  The great thing about being the mayor of your own town - the only governing body of your town, really - is that you can easily grant yourself a liquor license to run your tavern. That's something. Another situation where Eiler's in luck! 
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  (#6) Her Idea Of "Neighbor" Is Very Different

  When you think of your neighbor, most of us think of someone in close proximity, maybe a family a few doors down you can reliably borrow flour from when you're out. As the only resident of Monowi, Elier's definition of neighbor had to be revised.

  She told Country Living, "When you get out in an area like this, people 20 to 40 miles away are considered neighbors. We're like one big family. If anything happens, they're there to sympathize with you." 

  While Elier can certainly rely on her "neighbors" for some things, a cup or two of flour is probably not one of them. On the other hand, she did tell CBS Sunday Morning that "If I get that busy, somebody else gets up and gets a beer and tends the bar and I tell 'em don't worry, I can count your empties." 
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  (#7) The Burgers Are The Best And Cheapest In Town

  It's easy to have the best and cheapest of anything when you're the only business in town. On the other hand, you also have the worst and most expensive things too. Nevertheless, it's hard to imagine Eiler thinking that way.

  At her tavern, she serves Monowi's best burgers, which cost $2.50. The beers at the tavern are $2.00. The tavern has two Yelp reviews, both perfect five stars, that recommend her rib-eye. 
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  (#8) Mail Is Not Delivered To Monowi

  There are probably several drawbacks to being the only person in town, but perhaps one most of us wouldn't think about off the top of our heads is: who in their right mind is going to deliver your mail?

  Well, if you attempt to send mail to the near-ghost town, it will reroute to Lynch, Nebraska, a nearby municipality. Probably not great for Eiler if she's expecting an Ikea package. 
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  (#9) It Reached Its Population Peak In The 1930s

  Founded in 1902 as a farming town, Monowi reached a peak in population in the 1930s. This doesn't mean much, given that there was only 150 or so residents who lived in the town, but it's a huge difference compared to today. 

  The population fell when the town's younger population began to leave in search of jobs. Eiler can relate. Her kids and grandkids live in big cities around the country. 

  “One of my kids lives down by Sioux City," she told Grantland in 2013. My grandson went to school in Germany and the Netherlands and he’s now working in the Netherlands. And there’s my granddaughter in Omaha, who’s about to have a baby. Everyone’s growing up. But I’m excited to have a little baby again.”
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  (#10) Less People Means More Animals

  Given that Eiler has been a long time resident of Monowi, she's also seen in change. The more people that leave towns like Monowi and its surrounding areas, the more room there is for wildlife. Deer, which Eiler says she hadn't seen since she was growing up, are now everywhere. 

  "We used never to get deer here at all," She joked in an interview with The Guardian. "Now every day I see them come through the streets." 

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