U.S. Postal Service

Postal Service, U.S., independent federal agency that provides mail service nationwide. The Postal Service began operation on July 1, 1971, replacing the United States Post Office Department founded in 1775. The current arrangement calls for an 11-member independent board of governors, headed by the Postmaster General, to oversee all facets of the postal system's operations. They set postage rates, appoint postmasters, and set salaries for employees. There are about 30,000 post offices in the United States and the USPS employs about 730,000 people.