Ochopee in Collier County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Ochopee Post Office

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 3, 2015

1. Ochopee Post Office Marker

Inscription. Considered to be the smallest post office in the United States, this building was formerly an irrigation pipe shed belonging to the J. T. Gaunt Company tomato farm. It was hurriedly pressed into service by postmaster Sidney Brown after a disastrous night fire in 1953 burned Ochopee’s general store and post office. The present structure has been in continuous use ever since—as both a post office and ticket station for Trailways bus lines—and still services residents in a three-county area, including deliveries to Seminole and Miccosukee Indians living in the region. Daily business often includes request from tourist and stamp collectors the world over for the famed Ochopee post mark. The property was acquired by the Wooten Family in 1992.

Erected 1994 by Collier County Board of County Commissioners.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.

Location. 25° 54.076′ N, 81° 17.837′ W. Marker is in Ochopee, Florida, in Collier County. It is on Tamiami Trail East (U.S. 41) 0.2 miles west of Bass Lake Road, on the left

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when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 38000 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee FL 34141, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and in the Everglades.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Cypress Swamp (approx. 1.4 miles away); Tamiami Trail (approx. 4.2 miles away); "Father of the Fahkahatchee" (approx. 5.2 miles away); Old Railway Depot (approx. 6.1 miles away); Old Collier County Courthouse (approx. 6.2 miles away); Barron G. Collier (approx. 6.2 miles away); Hurricane Wilma (approx. 6.2 miles away).

Ochopee Post Office and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, April 18, 2014

2. Ochopee Post Office and Marker

Ochopee Post Office image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, October 3, 2015

3. Ochopee Post Office

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,227 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on June 4, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3. submitted on October 30, 2015, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.