Elsie Eiler, 92, known as ‘one woman town’. She is the mayor and a sole resident in a town named Monowi.
Elsie Eiler, 92, is known as ‘one woman town,’ literally. She is the mayor and a sole resident of a town named Monowi where she elects herself in annual elections, runs a bar and grill for tourists, issues her own liquor license, and pays herself $500 yearly taxes.
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Monowi, a small town in Nebraska, named after a Native American word (meaning flower) once had a population of 150 people in the 1930s. But it withered away by the 20th century, with railway road shutting down, and young people, including Elsie’s children moving away to other cities for a bright future. Shortly after, when Elsie’s husband passed away in 2004, she was the only person remaining in the town.
As a sole resident of the town, Elsie would spend her day hours running a bar and a grill, that she has been running since 1971. It has become one of the hot spots for tourists who are curious enough to explore this town. She would spend her time there, being available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m weekly and chatting with customers interested in her or the town’s story.
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But that’s not all. She is also a Mayor of the town. She would vote herself as the Mayor in annual elections, files a a municipal road plan that helps her secure funds, and pays herself $500 years taxes. She would also issue her own liquor license.
Despite every other resident of the town moving on with their lives by leaving the town, Elsie had strong reasons to stay back. For her, it was a world where she grew up, met her husband, and raised kids. And now that she is all by herself, she looks forward to curious tourists who come accompany her from all over 50 states and 40 countries.
There have been talks that when Elsie, the most famous resident of the town passes away, the town shall possibly be purchased in wholesale. But it appears that the town will always be associated with sweet old Elsie whose profile has been made famous by the newspapers and TV over the years.
In October 2024, sheriff’s from Boyd County celebrated her 91st birthday and gave her an honorary title of being a Nebraska Admiral, emphasizing that she is indeed a notable resident in the town.
When people ask her why she chooses to live alone, when she could always move away, closer to her children and grandchildren, Elsie says, “I know, but then I’d have to make all new friends again. Plus, I guess it’s harder to change your habits when you get older.”
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She is a living example of what it means to hold on and live by your values, when everyone else has moved on. (And it’s a thing of true honor!)
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