Monowi, Nebraska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monowi, Nebraska
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Village
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Population sign that can be seen
on entering Monowi from the east (2007) |
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Location within Boyd County
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Detailed map of Monowi, Nebraska
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 Monowi, Nebraska
Location in Nebraska
Monowi, Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Nebraska |
| County | Boyd |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2) |
| • Land | 0.21 sq mi (0.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,368 ft (417 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1 |
| • Density | 4.76/sq mi (1.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
68746 (shared with Lynch)
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| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-32550 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399382 |
Monowi (/ˈmɒnoʊwaɪ/ mon-OH-wye) is a small village in Boyd County, Nebraska, United States. It became famous because, for many years, it had only one person living there: Elsie Eiler. Even though the 2020 census seemed to show two residents, it was confirmed that Elsie is still the only one.
The name Monowi is believed to mean "flower" in a Native American language. The village was named this way because of the many wildflowers that grew where it was first built.
Contents
History of Monowi
| Historical population | |||
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| 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% | |
| 2020 | 2 | 100.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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Monowi was officially created in 1903. This happened when a railroad line was built to reach that area. A post office opened in Monowi in 1902 and stayed open until 1967.
The village was busiest in the 1930s, when about 150 people lived there. But like many small towns in the Great Plains region, Monowi saw its younger residents move away. They went to bigger cities that offered more jobs and chances for growth.
By the year 2000, only two people lived in Monowi: a married couple named Rudy and Elsie Eiler. Rudy passed away in 2004. This left Elsie as the only person living in the village.
As the only resident, Elsie Eiler has a very special job. She acts as the mayor of Monowi. She even grants herself a liquor license for the local tavern. Every year, she has to create a plan for the village's roads. This plan helps Monowi get money from the state to keep its four street lights working.
Even though Monowi has almost no residents, it has a bar called the Monowi Tavern. Elsie Eiler runs this bar for people who are traveling through or visiting. Elsie also takes care of Rudy's Library, which has five thousand books. She started the library to remember her late husband, Rudy.
In 2018, Monowi was shown in commercials for companies like Arby's and Prudential. The village was also the starting point for the world's largest advertisement poster, which was finished on June 13, 2018.
Understanding Census Data
After the 1990 United States census, Elsie Eiler noticed that Monowi's population count was wrong. She contacted a radio host to share the mistake. Years later, early information from the 2020 United States census seemed to show Monowi's population had grown to two.
However, Elsie said that no one new had moved into the town. A spokesperson for the United States Census Bureau explained that the extra person was actually "noise" added to the census data. This "noise" helps protect the privacy of people who answer the census. It means some individuals might be listed in a nearby area to keep their information private.
Where is Monowi?
Monowi is located in the eastern part of Boyd County, Nebraska. It is found between two rivers: the Niobrara River and the larger Missouri River.
The closest community to Monowi is Lynch, which is about 6.92 miles (11.14 km) away. The village is also about 193.97 miles (312.16 km) from Omaha, a much larger city. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village covers a total area of 0.21 square miles (0.54 km2), and all of it is land.
Monowi's Population
The Census data for Monowi is very interesting because of its unique population. As of 2010, here's what the numbers showed:
- Only one person lived there.
- This person was born in 1935, was female, and was white. Her name is Elsie.
- She was the only person living in her home.
- Out of three houses in Monowi, only hers was lived in.
Education in the Area
The area where Monowi is located is part of the Boyd County Public Schools. Before June 2017, students in this area went to the Lynch Public Schools district in Lynch, Nebraska. That district then joined with the Boyd County district.
Images for kids
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Rudy's Library, a collection of 5,000 books.
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A screenshot of voter registration for Monowi.
See also
In Spanish: Monowi (Nebraska) para niños
