International Center

Postal and telephone service

Learn about the United States Postal Service.

Post office locations

The main post office in Columbia is located at 511 E. Walnut St. (573-876-7829) in downtown Columbia, approximately four blocks from campus. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The post office is closed on Sundays.

There are several post office substations in Columbia:

• University Bookstore, 911 East Rollins St.
• Stephens College, 200 E. Broadway
• Columbia Mall, 2300 Bernadette Drive (in the Sears wing)
• Most supermarkets

Telephone service

To activate a land-line telephone, contact local providers during business hours to arrange for service.

U.S. telephone numbers

All telephone numbers in the United States have seven digits, plus a three-digit area code. The three-digit area code number indicates the part of the U.S. where the telephone is located or, in the case of wireless phones, where the service was set up. The area code for Columbia is 573. A telephone number with the area code 800, 888, 866 or 877 is usually a toll-free number (free of charge if dialed anywhere in the U.S.). You can call a Columbia area phone number within Columbia by dialing only the seven-digit number, such as 882-6007 for the MU International Center. To dial a U.S. number outside the Columbia area, first dial "1," followed by the three-digit area code and then the seven-digit number.

Wireless service

Wireless telephone service is available from a large number of providers, such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and U.S. Cellular. Wireless telephones, including pre-paid phones, can be purchased at many area department stores, drug stores, supermarkets and electronics stores as well as from the service providers.

For more information about city services, consult the City of Columbia New Residents' Guide.