Town with One Population in Monowi, Nebraska

Monowi, a silence town. Photo credited to Andrew Filer

My friend told me that he had stopped by in a town with one population for a drink. The town called as Monowi in Nebraska. What a joke? I reply. I though that he just kidding.  Yes, it is true, there is a town with one population in the USA. 

The resident, Elsie Eiler, 84 year old, has three important buildings to be managed: a mayor house that is her own house, a town library and a Monowi Tavern. The mayor lives in mobile home that close to the library.  

Library of Monowi, Nebraska. Credit to Kimmer C

5 thousand books collection of the library belong to mayor’s late husband, Rudy Eiler, a devoted reader. Since her husband dead 14 years ago, neighbors from nearby could read and even borrow the collections. 

Customers in Monowi tavern, credit to Kimmer C 

The only business made town live is a bar called as Monowi Tavern. The bar serves the nearby customers and people who stop by for drink or lunch. The foods quite cheap with US$3.5 burger and US$8.5 steaks as examples.

The bar business tax and license fee for alcohol drinks and tobacco are sources of revenue for the town. The income then be used to pay electricity and water bills. Four street lamps were funded by state government. 

Recently, the town had been visited by guests from 4 dozen states and more than 40 countries from around the globe. This development might attract the investors to do business in the town. If you visit Monowi by next 5 or 10 years, the town might be changing a lot.