What is the most useless city in Nebraska?

[Kaladin]

According to this TikTok, it’s Holdrege. I don’t know anything about Holdrege. O’Neil is the second most useless and I do agree with that.

TikTok - Make Your Day

 

[Cornicator]

McCook

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

It's been Lincoln since about the end of the Solich era.

 

[Kaladin]

Does anyone know why TikTok videos don’t embed

 

[Kaladin]

McCook

Been there once for a wedding. What a useless city

 

[Mavsker]

South Sioux City and it's not close

 

[BradWesley]

Whiteclay, NE

 

[HCFord1]

McCook

@God is a Husker

 

[That SOB Van Owen]

Monowai

 

[doublewing]

South Sioux City and it's not close

I lived in Eastern NE through my mid 30's and never once had to go there for anything. I don't think I ever knew anyone from there. Since you posted this, I thought I'd research it. Here is their very sad Wikipedia Page. Some real chamber of commerce shit right there.

So yeah, must be useless.

 

[RedSavage]

According to this TikTok, it’s Holdrege. I don’t know anything about Holdrege. O’Neil is the second most useless and I do agree with that.

TikTok - Make Your Day

I drove through O'Neil this past weekend. Some they/them lookin lady flipped me off bc it goes from 2 lanes to 1 and I saw no signage whatsoever indicating this so I accidentally cut her off. Then went to the Casey's and the clerk said nothing to me the whole time other than "do you have rewards". No "hello", no "you're good", just a very awkward interaction. Needless to say I was like get me the fuck out of this shithole town by the end of it.

My vote is for O'Neil. Stupid ass town.

 

[Lionsfan93]

Whiteclay, NE

Aren't there a few documentaries over how pathetic Whiteclay is?

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

South Sioux City and it's not close

Don't they make Twin Bing there? I love those things.

 

[BradWesley]

Aren't there a few documentaries over how pathetic Whiteclay is?

Oh yes.

 

[ZJSARENOTFREE]

Gotta go with Gothenburg or Broken Bow.

 

[Goskers07]

Monowai

You take that back! Elsie is a national treasure!

Oakdale or Riverdale are up there. McCook too.

 

[Kaladin]

I drove through O'Neil this past weekend. Some they/them lookin lady flipped me off bc it goes from 2 lanes to 1 and I saw no signage whatsoever indicating this so I accidentally cut her off. Then went to the Casey's and the clerk said nothing to me the whole time other than "do you have rewards". No "hello", no "you're good", just a very awkward interaction. Needless to say I was like get me the fuck out of this shithole town by the end of it.

My vote is for O'Neil. Stupid ass town.

Those are my favorite interactions with gas station workers

 

[doublewing]

I drove through O'Neil this past weekend. Some they/them lookin lady flipped me off bc it goes from 2 lanes to 1 and I saw no signage whatsoever indicating this so I accidentally cut her off. Then went to the Casey's and the clerk said nothing to me the whole time other than "do you have rewards". No "hello", no "you're good", just a very awkward interaction. Needless to say I was like get me the fuck out of this shithole town by the end of it.

My vote is for O'Neil. Stupid ass town.

Should have made her call heads or tails.

 

[That SOB Van Owen]

You take that back! Elsie is a national treasure!

Oakdale or Riverdale are up there. McCook too.

Well chat gpt agrees.

Prompt: what is the most useless city, town, village or otherwise incorporated area in Nebraska?

ChatGPT said:​

“Useless” is a loaded word — and probably not how the locals would describe any place in Nebraska. But if we interpret your question as asking which town or incorporated area is the most functionally obsolete, sparsely populated, or symbolically pointless, there are a few contenders that come up often in tongue-in-cheek or ironic discussions among Nebraskans:

---

🏜 Monowi, Nebraska​

• Population: 1
• Why it might be considered “useless”:
  • It has one resident, Elsie Eiler, who is also the mayor, librarian, and bartender.
  • There’s no real economy, no services, and no municipal purpose besides keeping the town alive as a novelty.
  • Yet, it still has an incorporated status.
• Why it’s also kind of awesome:
  • It’s a tourist stop for the curious.
  • It's been featured in media worldwide for its weird status as a one-person town.

---

🚦Gross, Nebraska​

• Population: ~2
• A close second. Once home to 600 people, now down to a handful — but still incorporated.

---

🏚 Other Honorable Mentions:​

• Lynch, Nebraska – Barely hanging on; almost unincorporated.
• Yutan or Strang – Sometimes mocked for their names and tiny size.
• Brownville – Historic, but debatably outdated in modern utility terms.

---

Final Thought:​

If we’re measuring by usefulness to the state economy, governance, or cultural contribution, the truly “useless” places are probably those that exist only on paper, haven’t held an election in decades, or whose incorporation costs more to maintain than any value they provide.

But most Nebraskans would argue: if it has history, pride, or a bar — it ain’t useless.

Want me to make a satirical travel guide entry for one of these?

 

[Goskers07]

Well chat gpt agrees.

Prompt: what is the most useless city, town, village or otherwise incorporated area in Nebraska?

ChatGPT said:​

“Useless” is a loaded word — and probably not how the locals would describe any place in Nebraska. But if we interpret your question as asking which town or incorporated area is the most functionally obsolete, sparsely populated, or symbolically pointless, there are a few contenders that come up often in tongue-in-cheek or ironic discussions among Nebraskans:

---

🏜 Monowi, Nebraska​

• Population: 1
• Why it might be considered “useless”:
  • It has one resident, Elsie Eiler, who is also the mayor, librarian, and bartender.
  • There’s no real economy, no services, and no municipal purpose besides keeping the town alive as a novelty.
  • Yet, it still has an incorporated status.
• Why it’s also kind of awesome:
  • It’s a tourist stop for the curious.
  • It's been featured in media worldwide for its weird status as a one-person town.

---

🚦Gross, Nebraska​

• Population: ~2
• A close second. Once home to 600 people, now down to a handful — but still incorporated.

---

🏚 Other Honorable Mentions:​

• Lynch, Nebraska – Barely hanging on; almost unincorporated.
• Yutan or Strang – Sometimes mocked for their names and tiny size.
• Brownville – Historic, but debatably outdated in modern utility terms.

---

Final Thought:​

If we’re measuring by usefulness to the state economy, governance, or cultural contribution, the truly “useless” places are probably those that exist only on paper, haven’t held an election in decades, or whose incorporation costs more to maintain than any value they provide.

But most Nebraskans would argue: if it has history, pride, or a bar — it ain’t useless.

Want me to make a satirical travel guide entry for one of these?

Well ChatGPT is stupid.