Monowi, Nebraska population of 1

The town of Monowi, Nebraska was thrust back in the news Sunday when the CBS Sunday Morning Show had a segment by Bill Geist who went to Nebraska and interviewed Elsie Eiler, the lone resident of Monowi.

We posted about Monowi here with an article titled: Monowi, Nebraska: population of 1, and a 5,000 book library.

The sign greeting motorists entering Monowi boasts a population of 2.

However, that is an exaggeration. The population is actually only 1.

The entire population of Monowi, Nebraska, is sitting in a bar. Her name is Elsie Eiler, 72.

Monowi, founded by Czech immigrants seeking a slice of the American dream, is on its last legs. Only Eiler is left, surrounded by the ruins of homes that once boasted families, neighbors and friends.

This town is an extreme example of what has happened across America's heartland.

The depopulation of the countryside over the last 50 years has been called the largest migration in American history.

Nowhere is that more starkly illustrated than on the Great Plains, which includes Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

They defined much of the American self-image, a land of family farms, hard work and mom's apple pie.

There is precious little left of the town of Monowi.

Mrs. Elsie Eiler is in control. She is the mayor, police chief, town clerk, bartender, librarian and entire business and residential community.

Link here and here.

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Please Note:

Althought this posting was written about Elsie Eiler, it was not written by Mrs. Eiler.

I am not sure how you can contact her. The zip code for Monowi is not listed in zip code directories. However, the zip code for O’Neill, Nebraska is 68763.