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Monowi, Nebraska
Village
Population sign that can be seenon entering Monowi from the east (2007)
Population sign that can be seen
on entering Monowi from the east (2007)
Location within Boyd County
Location within Boyd County
Detailed map of Monowi, Nebraska
Detailed map of Monowi, Nebraska
Monowi, Nebraska is located in Nebraska
Monowi, Nebraska
Monowi, Nebraska
Location in Nebraska
Monowi, Nebraska is located in the United States
Monowi, Nebraska
Monowi, Nebraska
Location in the United States
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
State Flag of Nebraska.svg Nebraska
County Boyd
Area
 • Total 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
 • Land 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,329 ft (405 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1
 • Density 4.76/sq mi (1.85/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
68746 (shared with Lynch)
Area code(s) 402
FIPS code 31-32550
GNIS feature ID 0831379

Monowi ( mon-OH-wy) is an incorporated village in Boyd County, Nebraska, United States. It garnered national and international recognition after the 2010 United States census counted only one resident of the village, Elsie Eiler. Though the 2020 census listed Monowi's population as two, this was confirmed to be an example of differential privacy in the census data; Eiler remains the town's sole resident.

According to tradition, the name Monowi means "flower" in an unidentified Native American language. Monowi was so named after the many wildflowers growing at the original site of the village.

History

Rudy's Library, Monowi, Nebraska, USA
Rudy's Library
Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 109
1920 100 −8.3%
1930 123 23.0%
1940 99 −19.5%
1950 67 −32.3%
1960 40 −40.3%
1970 16 −60.0%
1980 18 12.5%
1990 6 −66.7%
2000 2 −66.7%
2010 1 −50.0%
2015 (est.) 1 0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
2012 Estimate

Monowi was platted in 1902 when the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad was extended to that point. A post office was established in Monowi in 1902, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1967.

Monowi's peak years were in the 1930s, when it had a population of 150. Like many other small communities in the Great Plains, it lost its younger residents to cities that were experiencing growth and offering better jobs. During the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2; only one married couple, Rudy and Elsie Eiler, lived there. Rudy died in 2004, leaving his wife as the only remaining resident. In this capacity, she acts as Mayor, granting herself a liquor license and paying taxes to herself. She is required to produce a municipal road plan every year in order to secure state funding for the village's four street lights.

Although the village is nearly abandoned, it does have the 5,000-volume Rudy's Library, founded in memory of Rudy Eiler and maintained by Elsie Eiler. In addition, Elsie runs a tavern in Monowi and draws regular customers from as far as 80 miles away.

Elsie and Rudy's Library were shown on the Today show on May 31, 2005. (The library is now around three times as large as shown in the image).

Elsie and the Monowi Tavern were featured on CBS Sunday Morning on October 29, 2006, and again on August 12, 2007.

Elsie, the village, the tavern, and library were featured on an episode of Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, where Larry announced on a radio show that he was having a hotdog roast that very day to help raise money for Elsie's village. Within an hour people began to arrive and over a thousand people showed up for the roast to help Elsie. It aired April 12 and May 7, 2011, on The History Channel.

Elsie and the village were featured in a story on "Great Big Story" about tiny cities.

Panorama of Monowi Taver
Taken inside the Monowi Tavern. 2013.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2), all of it land. The village is located in the far eastern portion of Boyd County, in the northeastern region of Nebraska. It is located between the Niobrara River and the larger Missouri River. The nearest community to Monowi is Lynch, located approximately 6.92 miles (11.14 km) away. The village is located approximately 193.97 miles (312.16 km) from Omaha.

Demographics

Census data for Monowi highlights its uniqueness, owing to the numerical singularity of its population. As of 2010:

  • The total population was one (87.5 years old, female, white, named Elsie).
  • She was the one householder, living alone.
  • Of the three housing units in Monowi, only hers was occupied.

Education

The area is within Boyd County Public Schools. The area was previously within the Lynch Public Schools district in Lynch. The Lynch district consolidated into the Boyd County district in June 2017.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Monowi (Nebraska) para niños

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