<P> The service has grown steadily . By 1901, the mileage had increased to over 100,000; the cost was $1,750,321 and over 37,000 carriers were employed . In 1910 the mileage was 993,068; cost $36,915,000; carriers 40,997 . In 1913 came the introduction of parcel post delivery, which caused another boom in rural deliveries . Parcel post service allowed the distribution of national newspapers and magazines, and was responsible for millions of dollars of sales in mail - order merchandise to customers in rural areas . In 1930 there were 43,278 rural routes serving about 6,875,321 families--that is about 25,471,735 persons . The cost was $106,338,341 . In 1916, the Rural Post "Good" Roads Act authorized federal funds for rural post roads . </P> <P> The following is a list of the first rural routes established in each state, along with the names of the (up to three) Post Offices served and the date of establishment . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Post Office (s) </Th> <Th> Date </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alabama </Td> <Td> Opelika </Td> <Td> December 7, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alaska </Td> <Td> Nome </Td> <Td> May 10, 1901 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arizona </Td> <Td> Tempe </Td> <Td> November 24, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arkansas </Td> <Td> Clarksville </Td> <Td> October 19, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> California </Td> <Td> Campbell </Td> <Td> February 1, 1897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colorado </Td> <Td> Loveland </Td> <Td> November 10, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Connecticut </Td> <Td> Branford, Guilford, Milford </Td> <Td> June 1, 1898 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delaware </Td> <Td> Harrington </Td> <Td> October 3, 1898 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> District of Columbia </Td> <Td> Anacostia, Bennings </Td> <Td> September 1, 1902 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Florida </Td> <Td> Winter Park </Td> <Td> January 1, 1898 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Georgia </Td> <Td> Quitman </Td> <Td> December 8, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hawaii </Td> <Td> Haiku </Td> <Td> March 1, 1918 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Idaho </Td> <Td> Moscow </Td> <Td> April 14, 1900 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Illinois </Td> <Td> Auburn </Td> <Td> December 10, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Indiana </Td> <Td> Hartsville, Hope </Td> <Td> October 15, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Iowa </Td> <Td> Morning Sun </Td> <Td> November 10, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kansas </Td> <Td> Bonner Springs </Td> <Td> October 26, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kentucky </Td> <Td> Allensville </Td> <Td> January 11, 1897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Louisiana </Td> <Td> Thibodaux </Td> <Td> November 1, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maine </Td> <Td> Gorham, Naples, Sebago Lake </Td> <Td> November 23, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Maryland </Td> <Td> Westminster </Td> <Td> October 15, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Massachusetts </Td> <Td> Bernardston, Greenfield </Td> <Td> November 2, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michigan </Td> <Td> Climax </Td> <Td> December 3, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Minnesota </Td> <Td> Farmington </Td> <Td> January 1, 1897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mississippi </Td> <Td> Hickory </Td> <Td> October 1, 1901 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Missouri </Td> <Td> Cairo </Td> <Td> October 15, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Montana </Td> <Td> Billings </Td> <Td> February 1, 1902 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nebraska </Td> <Td> Tecumseh </Td> <Td> November 7, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nevada </Td> <Td> Lovelock </Td> <Td> December 1, 1903 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Hampshire </Td> <Td> Pittsfield </Td> <Td> October 20, 1898 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Jersey </Td> <Td> Moorestown </Td> <Td> June 6, 1898 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Mexico </Td> <Td> Roswell </Td> <Td> March 1, 1902 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New York </Td> <Td> Elba </Td> <Td> October 15, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Carolina </Td> <Td> China Grove </Td> <Td> October 23, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> North Dakota </Td> <Td> Wahpeton </Td> <Td> October 3, 1898 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ohio </Td> <Td> Collinsville, Darrtown, Somerville </Td> <Td> October 15, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oklahoma </Td> <Td> Hennessey </Td> <Td> August 15, 1900 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oregon </Td> <Td> Turner </Td> <Td> October 16, 1897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> New Stanton, Ruffsdale </Td> <Td> November 24, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rhode Island </Td> <Td> South Portsmouth </Td> <Td> January 1, 1899 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Carolina </Td> <Td> Cope, Orangeburg, Saint George </Td> <Td> March 1, 1899 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> South Dakota </Td> <Td> Ellis </Td> <Td> May 1, 1899 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tennessee </Td> <Td> Atoka </Td> <Td> January 11, 1897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Texas </Td> <Td> Fate, La Grange </Td> <Td> August 1, 1899 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Utah </Td> <Td> Murray </Td> <Td> August 15, 1899 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Vermont </Td> <Td> Grand Isle </Td> <Td> December 21, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Virginia </Td> <Td> Palmyra </Td> <Td> October 22, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Washington </Td> <Td> North Yakima </Td> <Td> April 1, 1897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> West Virginia </Td> <Td> Charles Town, Halltown, Uvilla </Td> <Td> October 1, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wisconsin </Td> <Td> Sun Prairie </Td> <Td> November 16, 1896 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Wyoming </Td> <Td> Hilliard, Sheridan, Wheatland </Td> <Td> October 15, 1900 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Post Office (s) </Th> <Th> Date </Th> </Tr>

Where did free rural mail delivery service begin in the us on october 1 1896
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