Monowi is the least populous incorporated village in the United States by having a population of one. Landmarks include Rudy's Library.
- CountyBoyd County
- Population1 (2020 U.S. Census)
Monowi is the least populous incorporated village in the United States by having a population of one. Landmarks include Rudy's Library.
Monowi, Nebraska gifts and souvenirs: 27 designs made from Monowi's own map, landmarks and history, from $10 to $99. Printed to order and shipped free in the USA.
| Popular | Price |
|---|---|
| Monowi Hometown Ornament | $23 |
| Monowi Vintage Travel Poster | from $40 |
| Monowi Varsity Crewneck | from $57 |
| Monowi Est. Tee | from $33 |
| Monowi Town Line Mug | from $26 |
| Monowi Market Tote | $37 |
Ceramic keepsake, gold ribbon, in 4 styles
Its landmark photo in a classic travel-poster layout
A local landmark photo as a gallery print
Classic large-letter postcard art, filled with local photos
Six local landmarks as instant photos on kraft paper
Heavy-blend fleece, street map printed on the back
Red heavy-blend crewneck, knit-stitch town print
Soft Bella+Canvas jersey
Kids' Bella+Canvas jersey, youth sizes
Bella+Canvas toddler jersey
Bella+Canvas baby bodysuit
Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos
Glossy ceramic, dishwasher safe
Large-letter postcard art filled with local photos, 11 oz ceramic
Weatherproof, for the front walk
24″×16″, printed coir-look fibers, rubber back
12″×12″ printed wood, ready to hang
Soft-touch, zip cover
A local landmark photo with the town name, 18″×18″
Sturdy all-over-print tote
Large-letter postcard art on a sturdy tote
Foam-front trucker, printed (not embroidered) with local photos
Glossy top, cork back
Soft fleece, 50″×60″
Six local landmarks as instant photos, soft fleece 50″×60″
20 oz, double-wall stainless
6″×4″ postcard, glossy front
A short history of Monowi from our Our Town Stories channel on YouTube.
Monowi was platted in 1902 following the extension of the Mason, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad to the area. A post office was established in Monowi in 1902 and operated until its closure in 1967.
Monowi reached its peak population in the 1930s, when approximately 150 people lived in the village. Like many other small communities in the Great Plains, it lost its younger residents to larger cities that were experiencing growth and offering better employment opportunities.
During the 2000 census, the village recorded a total population of two, consisting of a married couple, Rudy and Elsie Eiler. Rudy died in 2004, leaving his wife as the village's sole resident. In this role, she serves as mayor and issued herself a liquor license. She is also required to submit an annual municipal road plan to maintain state funding for the village's four streetlights.
Although the village is nearly abandoned, it does have a bar called the Monowi Tavern, operated by Eiler for passing travelers and tourists. She also maintains Rudy's Library, a collection of approximately 5,000 volumes established in memory of her late husband.
In 2018, the village was featured in commercials for Arby's and Prudential Financial. The village was also used as a starting place for the biggest advertisement poster in the world, which was finished on June 13, 2018. The poster in question consisted of the words "Arby's now has Coke." in red on a blank white sheet.
After the 1990 census, Eiler noticed that Monowi's population had been miscounted and contacted radio broadcaster Paul Harvey to publicize the error. During the 2020 census, preliminary information appeared to show that Monowi's population had increased to two. However, Eiler denied that anyone had moved into the town, and a spokesperson for the United States Census Bureau explained that the alleged second resident was the result of "noise... add[ed] to the [census] data," in which some individuals are listed in a bordering tract to protect the anonymity of census respondents.
Adapted (trimmed) from the Wikipedia article Monowi, Nebraska, revision 1381358931 by its contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
We share a part of every Monowi sale with local partners, and we'd love to print from your collection. Old photographs, maps and postcards make the best keepsakes.
Partner with usA favorite landmark, your street, a school or team, an anniversary gift, a different product. Tell us and we'll get back to you by email.
4 free coloring pages of Monowi, each traced from a photo of a local landmark. Print them at home, at school or for story hour.
Rudy's Library
A view of Monowi
A view of Monowi
A view of Monowi