Where does my mail come from post office

When you send a letter or package through the post office, it typically follows a series of steps before it reaches its destination. Here's a general overview of the process:

  1. Sorting: When you drop off your mail at the post office, it's sorted by zip code and type of mail (e.g., first-class, priority, package). This is usually done by hand or using automated sorting machines.
  2. Regional Processing Center: The sorted mail is then transported to a Regional Processing Center (RPC), which is a large facility that serves a specific geographic area. There are over 250 RPCs in the United States.
  3. Automated Processing: At the RPC, the mail is further sorted and processed using automated machines. These machines read the barcodes on the mailpieces and sort them by zip code, city, and state.
  4. Destination Sectional Center Facility: The mail is then transported to a Destination Sectional Center Facility (SCF), which is a large facility that serves a specific geographic area. There are over 250 SCFs in the United States.
  5. Local Post Office: The mail is then transported to the local post office that serves the recipient's zip code. This is usually the final stop before the mail is delivered to the recipient's mailbox.
  6. Delivery: The mail is then sorted and delivered to the recipient's mailbox by a postal carrier.

Here's a rough estimate of the distance your mail might travel:

Keep in mind that the exact route your mail takes may vary depending on the specific post office, the type of mail, and other factors.