Monowi is unlike any other town in America. According to the U.S. Census, its population is exactly one—Elsie Eiler. At over 90 years old, Eiler isn’t just the town’s only citizen; she’s also its entire local government. As Monowi’s sole resident, she serves as the mayor, clerk, treasurer, and every other municipal official required to keep the town legally incorporated.

Each year, Eiler prepares the town’s budget, signs official documents, maintains public records, and even grants the town’s liquor license to the only business in Monowi—her own tavern. She also oversees the town’s small public library, which houses thousands of books collected by her late husband, Rudy. While it may sound like a quirky publicity stunt, Monowi functions as a real incorporated municipality, and Eiler carries out all the responsibilities needed to keep it operating.

Monowi wasn’t always this quiet. During the early 20th century, it was home to well over a hundred residents, supported by the railroad and surrounding farms. Like many rural communities across the Great Plains, however, its population steadily declined as younger generations moved to larger cities in search of jobs and opportunities. By the early 2000s, Elsie Eiler had become the town’s last remaining resident after her husband passed away, leaving her to preserve the community almost single-handedly.

Despite its tiny population, Monowi has become an international curiosity. Visitors from more than 60 countries have stopped by the tavern to meet Eiler, share a meal, and experience life in America’s smallest incorporated town.