Fedex History

1907 – UPS created by Jim Casey as the American Messenger Company in Seattle, Washington.

1953 - UPS resumes air operations. Blue Label Air provides two-day service to Chicago, Detroit, and several major cities on the east and west coasts.

1957 - UPS serves areas of five states within 150-mile radius of Chicago.

1971 – Federal Express Corporation is founded in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Frederick Smith realized the tremendous need for one to two day package and air-freight delivery that was better than the current distribution system.

1973 - Federal Express relocates operations to Memphis, Tenn.

On the first night of continuous operation, 389 Federal Express employees and 14 aircrafts deliver 186 packages overnight to 25 U.S. cities — and the modern air/ground express industry is born.

1975 - Federal Express installs the first Federal Express Drop Box.

1975 - UPS forges "Golden Link," becomes first package delivery company to serve every address in the 48 contiguous United States.

1977 - After two years of lobbying