15 of the Smallest Towns in America

In a country that boasts metropolises like New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas, it’s easy to forget about the other end of the spectrum — small towns with populations in the hundreds, tens, or even single digits. 

Tiny towns across America offer a striking contrast to modern hubs; these places, where everyone knows your name and life moves at a much slower pace, hold onto a sense of community and history that often gets lost. 

Despite their size, these small towns have rich local traditions, fascinating histories, and unique quirks that continue to attract the curious. Whether it’s the allure of natural hot springs, a quirky one-resident town, or a town where everyone lives in the same building, these spots are some of the smallest (and most interesting) towns in the U.S.

Population: 1

In the 1930s, Monowi had up to 150 residents, but today, it’s down to just one — Elsie Eiler. She runs the town’s only business, The Monowi Tavern. “The bar is the town, and I’m the town,” Elsie once told the New York Times. The tavern, run by her family since 1971, serves as a meeting spot for nearby residents. Aside from bartending and cooking, she also serves as the town’s mayor and tax collector.

Fun Fact: In 2018, the village was featured in commercials for Arby's and Prudential.

Population: 1

Located 70 miles south of Juneau, Hobart Bay was once a thriving logging town. Until 1998, it had enough residents to support a local school, but now it's almost completely deserted, with just one resident left.

Fun Fact: The town is surrounded by stunning Alaskan wilderness, making it a unique spot for adventure seekers looking for a remote experience.

Population: 1 or 2

Billed as “America’s Smallest Town,” Buford spans 9.9 acres and includes a gas station, convenience store, and a modular home. Once a booming railroad town with 2,000 residents, it now serves as a pit stop for travelers looking for a quick break.

Fun Fact: In 2012, a Vietnamese businessman, Pham Dinh Nguyen bought the town at an auction for $900,000. Buford is ​​the only place people can buy his PhinDeli Coffee.

Population: 2

Swett gained fame for being "For Sale" back in 2014, with a listing price of $399,000. The sale included 6 acres of land and a few buildings, including a tire shop. Despite the attention, Swett still hasn’t found a buyer.

Fun Fact: A Russian film company once expressed interest in purchasing Swett as a movie set location.

Population: 2

Mary and Michael Finnegan are the top dogs in Gross, Nebraska – that is if you don’t count their dog Stella. Once home to over 600 people, Gross is now mostly a ghost town save for its bar and restaurant, the Nebraska Inn, which is a popular choice with the country’s nearby folks for its home-cooked meals.

Fun Fact: Coffee at the Nebraska Inn costs just a nickel, and Mary’s pan-fried chicken and homemade pies often sell out.

Population: 3

If you’ve been to Yellowstone, there’s a good chance you’ve driven past this small town that serves as a gateway for visitors to the breathtaking Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Despite its small population, it’s popular with fly fishing enthusiasts and folks who go floating and tubing.

Fun Fact: An abandoned railroad tunnel near Warm River offers a cool exploration site for history buffs and hikers.

Population: 4

Once a booming railroad town, the town of Thurmond is now nearly abandoned, save for some four residents. Today, it’s part of The National Park Service. The Thurmond Depot has been restored as a visitor center and offers walking tours of the former boomtown, as well as providing numerous trails through the beautiful New River Gorge area.

Fun Fact: Matewan, a 1987 film written and directed by John Sayles was filmed in Thurmond.

Population: 6

Lost Springs may have only six residents today – the sign says 1 – but it was once home to a bustling mining community of over 200 people. Today, the town maintains a post office, general store, and a grassy park.

Fun Fact: In 1983, Lost Springs successfully fought the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company to prevent them from seizing land to build a railway embankment.

Population: 9

Located along Florida’s northeastern coast, Marineland was originally built around the famous Marineland Aquarium and remains the smallest town in the state. Visitors come for eco-tours and to enjoy the town’s quiet beaches where you can easily find a spot to pitch a sun umbrella.

Fun Fact: Marineland was one of the world’s first oceanariums, and the aquarium was opened as Marine Studios, a facility designed for Hollywood filmmakers to create underwater footage for motion pictures and newsreels.

Population: 20

Once a booming silver mining town between 1880 and 1888, Bonanza is now almost a ghost town with just 20 residents. Despite its size, it still has an official mayor (Betty Tyree) and a sense of community among the few who remain.

Fun Fact: If you look on Redfin the town has a sole listing, a 1979 single family home for $299,900, not a bad deal considering you have access to National Forest Lands right on your doorstep.

Population: 30

Red House, located within the bounds of Allegany State Park, may be home to one of the largest parks in New York but its population makes it the least populated town in New York. According to USA Today, Red House had a population of more than 1,000 people during the late 1800s. Now, just 30 plus residents occupy almost 650,000 square acres of gorgeous state park – and they’ve got to drive 10 miles away to Salamanca, N.Y, for their mail.

Fun Fact: Former NFL running back for the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions, Marv Hubbard is from Red House.

Population: 168

Founded in 1954 by Andy Barker, Love Valley was designed as a car-free cowboy town, and to this day, only horses and wagons are allowed in the town center. Its Old West theme remains intact, drawing visitors to events like rodeos and horse shows.

Fun Fact: Love Valley Arena hosts many rodeos and horse events that are open to the public. Movies like The Last Gunslinger and Vengeance Without Mercy were filmed there.

Population: 202

Nestled in the Jemez Mountains, this small town is known for its hot springs and stunning natural beauty. According to Only In Your State, Jemez Hot Springs, an hour north of Albuquerque, is particularly popular for its mineral-rich waters ranging between 100 and 104 degrees.

Fun Fact:Because Jemez Springs is fed through the mountains, its springs have hot rather than cold water.

Population: 254

$8 million. That’s what mining company Universal Green Technology paid for this tiny town off the U.S. Highway 95, 70 miles south of Las Vegas in 2021. The town was founded by Nancy and Everette “Slim” Kidwell in the 1960s and at one point included just 4 residents (inclusive of their 2 pets). Designed for pilots and aviation enthusiasts Cal-Nev-Ari’s dirt roads are wide enough to taxi planes from driveways to the runway.

Fun Fact: The sale included an unpaved airstrip, a motel, an RV park, a mobile home park, convenience store, and the town’s casino and restaurant.

Population: 257

While Whittier is better known as a gateway to Prince William Sound to see amazing tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife, what’s even more unique about it is nearly all residents live in a single building known as Begich Towers. The town’s school, grocery store, notary, and church are all inside the same building, or connected by a tunnel, and even though it's small, summertime sees the town welcoming over 700,000 visitors.

Fun Fact: There’s only one road in/out and at night the 2-mile tunnel shuts down leaving the town cut off till the morning.

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