Magnolia Springs is a picturesque township, rich in southern culture and tradition. As one of few places in North America where mail is delivered by-way-of boat, many people ponder the future of this river route tradition as the United States Postal Service continues to seek ways to sever cost. 

 Although there are other locations in the United States that receive mail by water, Magnolia Springs is the only place in America where boat delivery is arranged by the U.S. Postal Service all year round.  And it’s the only River Route within the U.S. Postal Service.  Residents living along the placid waters of the Magnolia and Fish Rivers have mail boxes along the distal end of their piers where mail is delivered daily by Mark, an agent of the Magnolia Springs Post Office.

 “It’s something that defines us as a community”, one resident said as he recounts life in this quaint, Southern town.  Residents here are eager to tell you the history of their town and—of course—tell you about their unique river route.

 The U.S. Postal Service like many other governmental entities is reporting large fiscal losses and mounting debt. The USPS is not subsidized by tax dollars; it relies heavily on its first class postage sales and shipping services to provide for its budget. Though profit from the U.S. Postal Service priority and express mail service are on the rise—due impart to online shopping—it does not offset the major loss of capital from its first class mail services. 

   According to the U.S. Postal Service, first class mail accounts for more than half of its total revenue which in the past has included personal letters, cards, bills and payments.  All of these items can now be sent electronically through the Internet, including bill payments which can also be made by phone.  The U.S. Postal Service reports a nearly 20% drop in first class mail over the past four years and that number is expected to increase. 

 More people are depending on the Web to send and receive information. TV programs, movies and magazines (such as Beachn’ and Boomers) can also be accessed online.  Albeit, good news in terms of advancements in communications—it is not conducive to current U.S. Postal Service’s profitability.

 Deborah Fetterly, spoke person for the U.S. Postal Service, reports that there are no plans in place to discontinue mail delivery by boat in Magnolia Springs, AL at this time nor is there plans to discontinue other alternative mail routes throughout the U.S. such as the Supai, AZ mule train route which delivers mail to the Havasupai Indian Reservation within the Grand Canyon.

 For now, residents in Magnolia Springs can continue to relish in this unique tradition that accentuates its Southern flair along the sleepy Magnolia and Fish Rivers here in Baldwin County.