1. Buford, Wyoming (Population: 1)
Yes, you read that right—one. Buford, Wyoming, once a bustling railroad town of 2,000 people, is now famously known as the “smallest town in America.” It was bought by a Vietnamese entrepreneur in 2012, who renamed it “PhinDeli Town Buford” to promote his coffee brand. Though the name change didn’t quite stick, the quirky town with its single resident still draws curious travelers on I-80.
Despite the tiny population, Buford has become a roadside legend, Kirk Siegler from NPR explains. Its lonely gas station and ghost-town vibe have made it an icon of rural Americana. People stop not for supplies, but for selfies and stories. It’s a strange little blip on the map that’s somehow larger than life.
2. Monowi, Nebraska (Population: 1)
Monowi is another one-person wonder, but with a twist—that one person is the mayor, librarian, and bartender all rolled into one. Elsie Eiler has kept this town going ever since her husband died in 2004, and she continues to run the Monowi Tavern, which has become something of a pilgrimage spot, according to Kieran Dahl from Eater. Tourists from all over the world come to sip beer and chat with the most powerful woman in town—because she’s the only one. She even files a municipal road plan each year to keep the town’s status official.
The story of Monowi is pure small-town legend. It’s about loyalty, memory, and grit. Elsie’s unshakable commitment has turned Monowi into a symbol of rural resilience. When you hear “population: 1,” it somehow makes the story even bigger.
3. Whittier, Alaska (Population: ~263)
Whittier isn’t famous because it’s small—it’s famous because nearly everyone lives in one building, according to Lucia Burbano from Tomorrow City. That’s right: almost the entire population resides in Begich Towers, a 14-story structure that houses apartments, a police station, a church, and even a post office. Originally built for military use, it now serves as a self-contained village in the harsh Alaskan climate. The only way in or out is through a mountain tunnel.
The idea of a whole town under one roof feels like something out of a sci-fi movie. But it’s real, and it works. Whittier is a tight-knit community where you can visit your neighbors without putting on a coat. It’s remote, it’s weird, and it’s utterly fascinating.
4. Elkhorn, Montana (Population: 49)
Elkhorn is technically a ghost town, but a few hearty souls still call it home, according to Legends of America. Once a silver mining boomtown in the 1800s, it now has fewer than 50 full-time residents. What sets Elkhorn apart are the well-preserved buildings like Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall—striking wooden structures that look frozen in time. It’s part state park, part time capsule.
Visitors flock to Elkhorn for its eerie beauty and frontier history. The town saw tragedy during a diphtheria outbreak in 1888 that devastated the local children, and its tiny cemetery still tells that heartbreaking story. Today, its silence is its story. A town this quiet shouldn’t be this unforgettable.
5. Tortilla Flat, Arizona (Population: 6)
This dusty outpost in the Superstition Mountains has just six residents—but plenty of Wild West charm. Once a stagecoach stop along the Apache Trail, Tortilla Flat is now a quirky tourist spot famous for its saloon, restaurant, and dollar-bill-covered walls. People come for prickly pear ice cream and stay for the lore. It’s said that nearby mines still hold lost treasure from the infamous Lost Dutchman.
The town wears its myth like a badge of honor. Tour guides spin tales of curses, buried gold, and restless spirits. Whether true or tall, those stories keep people coming back. Six people live there—but thousands believe in its legend.
6. Lost Springs, Wyoming (Population: 4)
At one point in the 1990s, Lost Springs had a population of just one—though it’s grown a bit since. Despite that, it’s managed to maintain its incorporation and even had a post office, a general store, and a town hall. The name itself, “Lost Springs,” feels poetic for a town that time nearly forgot. It was originally a stop on the Chicago and North Western Railway.
The place carries a wistful charm that pulls in travelers from Highway 20. There’s a kind of beauty in its perseverance. Towns like this shouldn’t still exist—but Lost Springs does, stubborn and serene. It’s a whisper of the West that still speaks.
7. Tenney, Minnesota (Population: 6 when dissolved)
Tenney held on as one of the smallest towns in Minnesota until 2011, when it officially voted to dissolve itself. At that time, there were just six residents. It had a grain elevator, a church, and a once-bustling general store—but modern convenience passed it by. Still, its name and story live on in local lore.
Tenney’s final vote to dissolve made state headlines. It raised questions about what makes a town a town. People saw the vote as the end of an era—but also as a uniquely American moment. A community so small, it could literally vote itself out of existence.
8. Hibberts Gore, Maine (Population: 1)
Hibberts Gore isn’t really a town—technically, it’s an “unincorporated gore,” a leftover survey error from colonial days. But it has one resident who calls it home, giving it that magical, mythical feel. The land is mostly wooded, crisscrossed by creeks and wildlife. It’s a place where nature has more presence than people.
Still, this little postage stamp of civilization has drawn curiosity for its peculiar status. It’s not part of any town, yet it’s legally recognized as its own thing. It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder how many secrets America’s map still holds. Quiet, remote, and totally one-of-a-kind.
9. Brewster, Florida (Population: 0)
Technically abandoned but still standing, Brewster was once a bustling phosphate mining town run by American Cyanamid Company. It had homes, a movie theater, a post office, and even a bowling alley. The company closed shop in the 1960s, and everyone left—but the buildings didn’t. Now it’s a ghost town owned by Mosaic, the mining giant.
Brewster has developed a reputation as a Floridian Atlantis—forgotten, but not lost. Urban explorers whisper about its eerie stillness and fading remnants. Though officially empty, its story lives on in overgrown streets and dusty memories. A town with no people, but plenty of presence.
10. Hillsview, South Dakota (Population: 2)
Hillsview had a population of 2 in the 2020 Census, making it one of the smallest incorporated towns in the country. Founded in 1887, it was originally tied to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. There are no schools, stores, or post offices left—just a few houses and open prairie. Yet it still clings to life.
The fact that it’s incorporated at all feels like a stubborn miracle. Its remaining residents are keeping the lights on, so to speak. Hillsview’s legend isn’t built on drama—it’s built on determination. And that’s a pretty big story for a town this small.
11. Centralia, Pennsylvania (Population: <5)
Centralia is America’s most famous ghost town—because it’s literally on fire. An underground coal mine fire has been burning beneath the town since 1962. Nearly all residents were relocated in the 1980s, and the ZIP code was officially revoked in 2002. Today, only a handful of people remain by choice.
The ground is unstable, smoke still rises in places, and Route 61’s “Graffiti Highway” became a rebellious art installation. Centralia inspired the video game Silent Hill and multiple documentaries. The legend of Centralia is one of danger, mystery, and defiance. Few live there, but its story burns brighter than ever.
12. Gann Valley, South Dakota (Population: 14)
Despite being tiny, Gann Valley is the county seat of Buffalo County—yes, the whole county! With a population of just 14, it holds onto the quirky title of “America’s smallest county seat.” The town features a post office and a courthouse, but not much else. It’s surrounded by open farmland and the vast South Dakota plains.
What makes it legendary is that juxtaposition: legal importance in a nearly empty place. It’s a reminder that every inch of this country has structure and history. Gann Valley proves that sometimes the smallest spots carry the biggest responsibilities. And somehow, that makes it feel even grander.
