It’s easy to take for granted how quickly we can connect with one another in today’s world. It’s hard to believe that telephones did not exist less than 200 years ago. All communication was done in person or by letters sent through the mail. People didn’t have the luxury of ordering something and having it delivered the next day. The post office is the one part of the mail system that has never changed. This page will provide you an overview of the post office’s history and, hopefully, will help you understand how it came to be.

The First US Post Offices

Early immigrants in America initially established a fixed spot where they could gather their mail to be carried abroad about the year 1639. Although it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when these services were first given, it is apparent that some form of postal service existed during the colony’s early beginnings. These were unofficial postal services run by individuals. Letters may be sent to various territories as well as back to England via Boston.

The British crown granted authority to a man called Thomas Neale to establish the country’s first official mail service in 1691. The Northern American Postal Service was established, and it was the beginning of regulated postage charges across the country. As a result, Neale became America’s first postmaster. His 21-year concession for the North American Postal Service eventually ran out in 1710, and parliament took over.

Evolution of the Modern Post Office

Before it became what it is today, the United States Postal Service went through various versions.

The United States Post Office is abbreviated as USPO. The USPO was created in response to the British-led postal service of the time. It received congressional support and began operations in 1775. This is usually acknowledged as the start of the modern post office.

The USPOD was the penultimate prototype of the US postal system before it evolved into what we know today. It was a cabinet agency inside the US government that stood for United States Post Office Department. The United States gained complete access to mailing networks in 1792, when the government established this department and proceeded to take control. This had a huge impact on the economy of this fledgling nation. By 1869, there were 27,000 municipal post offices in the United States. The popularity of newspapers soared, and people became better informed every day, among other things.

USPS – The United States Postal Service (or USPS) is the consequence of the 1600s’ first post offices. Although it is an independent organisation, the postmaster general and other presidentially appointed personnel run it. The USPS employed about 600,000 workers as of 2018.

Where is Your Local Post Office?

Some may believe that the rise of electronic communication would have resulted in the demise of post offices. Surprisingly, the post office is still open for business. Consumers now have access to an ever-expanding library of products at their fingertips thanks to technological advancements. Consumers ordering things online and businesses selling goods online are the primary reasons for the USPS’s increased importance. They employ hundreds of thousands of people, as previously stated. They now have over 30,000 post offices and 143,000 post boxes around the country. Those post boxes would stretch for 59 kilometres if they were all lined up next to each other. It’s safe to assume that the USPS will be around for a long time.

In principle, with so many post offices and mailboxes around the United States, they should be easy to locate. There are plenty of times when they are as elusive as ever if you’re new to a place or simply in a hurry.

Where Can You Find Post Boxes? – If you already have your parcel stamped and ready to go, a post box is usually a quick and convenient solution. While you’re out and about, keep an eye out for a blue box. You should be able to find these in most areas. Whether you’re having difficulties finding one, go to https://tools.usps.com/find-location.htm to see if there’s one near you.

What Are the Locations of Post Offices? – If you have something to ship but don’t have the postage yet, you’ll need to visit a post office. The page above will also help you find a post office and a post box in your area.

When Are Post Offices Open?

The hours of operation for post offices differ greatly from one location to the next. Most will be open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, it’s a good idea to double-check ahead of time because some may open or close at different times depending on the day. Post offices also provide a variety of services that may close before the post office itself. The post office, for example, may be open until 7 p.m., but its passport photographic service may only be available until 5 p.m.

Non-holidays — On non-holidays, you can use the URL provided previously to easily check the open hours of your local post office. Simply fill in the first box with your city and state (or zip code). Then, under “Location Type,” choose “Post Offices” and the maximum distance you want to go to get to your post office. Then press “search,” and you’ll be presented with a selection of options. You may view the open hours for each of these services by clicking on them.

Holidays — Throughout the year, the USPS honours a number of holidays. Memorial Day, Christmas Day, and Veterans’ Day are just a few examples. Visit https://about.usps.com/newsroom/events/ for a complete list of holidays observed by USPS.

Over the years, post offices have made a substantial contribution to the American economy. Despite the fact that they have changed significantly since their inception, they continue to assist the public in staying connected. The American post office has gone through many changes and will likely continue to do so in the future. It’s impossible to say how far new technologies (such as drones) will go as they develop further. But one thing is certain: Thomas Neale would be astounded at how far we’ve progressed.