Rural Free Delivery

Rural Free Delivery (RFD) was a U.S. Postal Service program introduced in the late 19th century that brought mail directly to residents in rural areas at no extra cost. Before RFD, people living outside cities often had to travel long distances to pick up their mail. RFD made communication easier, faster, and more convenient by delivering mail straight to farmers' and rural residents’ homes, helping connect isolated communities to the rest of the country and supporting everyday business and personal correspondence.