In 1896 Rural Free Delivery (RFD) was implemented by the Postal Service in Virginia and expanded to 29 other states, including Arkansas, within a year. Arkansas's first rural delivery route opened in October in 1896 and was based out of Clarksville, Arkansas. Prior to RFD, the 65% of Americans living in rural areas had to travel to the nearest post office to pick up their mail, while citizens living in urbanized areas had their mail delivered to their home.

Due to a sharp rise in use of the postal system following the implementation of RFD, the Fourth-Class Post-Office classification was expanded. Unlike First Class offices, Fourth Class offices were run by private citizens who earned a commission based on P.O. box rentals, packaging materials sold, and cancelled stamps as well as how much waste paper, old newspapers, and printed matter were brought in for recycling.

Among the many Fourth-Class Post Offices opened, this collection documents six locations established in the Jonesboro area. Five of the offices were located in Craighead County: Hasbrook, Greensboro, Herndon, Gilkeson, and Craighead. Vernon Minton ran the office in Hasbrook from June 1900 to November 1900. J.W. Johnson ran the Greensboro office from 1892-1906. Hernndon's Fourth Class Post office was opened in 1892 by H.R. Schisler, who ran it until 1895, followed by W.H. Smith, who took over from 1904-1906. The sixth post office was slightly further north in Greene County at Lorado and run by Postmaster H. W. Cathy from 1909-1913.

Meanwhile the official First- and Second-Class Post Office in Jonesboro was run by Postmaster Henry Houghton from 1900-1910. Henry Houghton was born in 1859 and began working in the post office as a clerk. He was promoted to the Postmaster's assistant position and eventually earned the title Postmaster for himself. He died in 1920 leaving his wife, Martha Houghton, and two children.

The Jonesboro Post Office was likely established in the 1880s when the Cotton Belt Railroad went through the city. Free city delivery was a staple service in addition to money orders, selling stamps, and renting boxes. This post office continues to serve Jonesboro today.