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mahatmakanejeeves

(60,665 posts)
Sat Jul 1, 2023, 05:47 AM Jul 2023

On this day, July 1, 1971, the United States Postal Service began operations.

United States Postal Service



Government signature used since 1993

Agency overview
Formed: July 1, 1971; 52 years ago
Employees: 653,167 (516,636 career personnel, 136,561 non-career personnel) as of 2021



The full eagle logo, used in various versions from 1970 to 1993

The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U.S., including its insular areas and associated states. It is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the Constitution of the United States. The USPS, as of 2021, has 516,636 career employees and 136,531 non-career employees.

The USPS has a monopoly on "letter" delivery within the U.S. and operates under a universal service obligation (USO), both of which are defined across a broad set of legal mandates, which obligate it to provide uniform price and quality across the entirety of its service area. The Post Office has exclusive access to letter boxes marked "U.S. Mail" and personal letterboxes in the U.S., but has to compete against private package delivery services, such as United Parcel Service, FedEx, and DHL.

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On this day, July 1, 1971, the United States Postal Service began operations. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2023 OP
I wonder what a mid-size post office box cost back then bucolic_frolic Jul 2023 #1
In the late 70's, in a rural town in OK, a small PO box was $7.52 month. Runningdawg Jul 2023 #4
per month?? bucolic_frolic Jul 2023 #5
Yes. Per month. The next option was to drive 15 miles to rent a box. Rural isn't always cheaper. Runningdawg Jul 2023 #6
Wow! Delarage Jul 2023 #2
On July 26, 1775 the Second Continental Congress GreenWave Jul 2023 #3

Delarage

(2,346 posts)
2. Wow!
Sat Jul 1, 2023, 05:58 AM
Jul 2023

It was the "United States Post Office Department" when I was born (several months before the change).

Unfortunately, Louis DeJoy is still running it

GreenWave

(8,995 posts)
3. On July 26, 1775 the Second Continental Congress
Sat Jul 1, 2023, 06:08 AM
Jul 2023

established the US postal system. It had as its first postmaster general, Ben Franklin!

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