Monowi is a 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. She's the town’s sole resident, mayor, librarian, and bartender — all rolled into one. But why does a whole town have only one resident?

Monowi wasn’t always this quiet. Back in the 1930s, the town was home to around 150 residents. It flourished thanks to the Elkhorn Railroad and nearby farming activities. Locals once enjoyed access to grocery stores, restaurants, and even a jail, making it a fully functioning rural town. But like many communities on the American Great Plains, Monowi’s fate changed during the Great Depression.

The economic downturn and collapsing rural infrastructure drove people to cities in search of better opportunities. Families became smaller, younger generations moved away, and the once-thriving town began to fade.

By the early 2000s, Elsie Eiler and her husband Rudy were the only two residents left in Monowi. When Rudy passed away in 2004, Elsie remained, making her the town's only inhabitant. But far from giving in to isolation, Elsie chose to carry on the legacy of her community.