PONDERAY — While the Ponderay post office will soon have a new home, city residents won't have to look too far to find it. 

The U.S. Postal Service has announced it plans to move the Ponderay post office, currently located at 296 Fourth St., to the old Horizon Credit Union, 480 Bonner Mall Way. The new location is about a mile away from the current post office. 

News of the move is welcome, with Ponderay Mayor Steve Geiger noting the city has been working with the Postal Service for the past several years to address the need for a new post office location. 

"We're all growing. We all need more space," Geiger said. 

With the post office currently located in a residential part of the city, among the fastest growing in Idaho over the past several years, there has been an increased need for space both at the post office and the adjacent city hall. 

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the city's population has grown roughly 51% between 2020 when it had 1,296 residents and 2024, when the city's population increased to 1,956. 

As the area continues to grow, the need for more space by both entities is only going to continue to increase, Geiger said. Limited parking as well as a need for more space and storage are challenges being faced by both the post office and the city. 

"We're going to have a better location for the post office as our city grows, and our city hall is going to have more room for expansion," the Ponderay mayor added. 

The new location is more centralized and offers the potential for a drive-up drop-off for mail, similar to what exists in Sandpoint. 

"We’re excited about it. We think it's going to be a better location and it's good to see (the former Horizon Credit Union) building be put to good use," said Geiger. 

The Postal Service announced it would be seeking a new post office site in the city in May 2024, setting off a search for a new location. Postcards sent out by the agency in May 2024 indicated support for the move, prompting it to move ahead with the relocation, Postal Service communications specialist Zachary Laux said. 

"In the interest of creating the least disruption for the community the Postal Service looked for a location close to the current facility," Laux said. "The new, proposed site is less than 1 mile from the current office location." 

The Postal Service anticipates providing the same services and plans to continue services at the existing post office until the new location is operational. 

"While the Postal Service is sensitive to the impact of this decision on its customers and the Ponderay community, public input was properly considered, and the decision is consistent with Postal Service objectives," he said. 

While no date has been set for the opening of the new location, the existing post office on Fourth Street is expected to remain open through early 2025.