The Ochopee Post Office (Tom Fearer, 2017) |
I initially thought that Florida's Ochopee Post Office's claims of being the country's smallest was just another one of those attention-getting taglines to get you to stop in some remote area. But I was wrong - at 61.3 square feet, the Ochopee Post Office is the smallest operating post office in the United States.
A Collier County Historical Marker tells the Ochopee Post Office History. (Adam Prince - August 2011) |
It has held its title since 1953 when a fire at a local country store disabled the remote Southwest Florida Post Office. Fortunately, an old irrigation shed was nearby, and it was quickly commandeered to serve residents in a 130-square-mile area, including the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes.
The Ochopee Post Office - closed when I stopped - is pretty tiny! (Adam Prince - August 2011) |
In operation since then, the 'blink and you'll miss it' post office has been a fun stop for many travelers over the years. Visitors will mail a simple postcard so that a cancellation stamp reading "Smallest Post Office Building in the USA" can be applied. Over the years, the Post Office has also served as a ticket office and stop for Trailways Bus Lines.
Sources & Links:
- Smallest Post Office ---United States Postal Service
- The Smallest Post Office in America in Ochopee, Florida ---Untapped New York
How To Get There:
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