Ever since the introduction of the ZIP Code in the United States for designating address locations in the 1960s, the U.S. Postal Service has undergone significant changes. The abbreviation “ZIP” originally capitalized and trademarked, stands for “Zoning Improvement Plan”.
What Is A ZIP Code or A Postal Code?
The postal code system in the United States is referred to as a ZIP code. A ZIP Code identifies the post office or delivery zone to which a mail or a package will be delivered after final processing. Some mistakenly think that a code is just a combination of letters and numbers. But it isn’t so. It’s a set of numbers that provides details about the residents in different geographical divisions of the United States. ZIP code can give a lot of useful information about the area and its residents.
The History of American ZIP Code System
A ZIP code system has a long history. The United States Post Office Department workforce relied heavily on the local addresses and hand sorting addresses with post offices back in the 1940s, as mail sorting was done manually. As the economy recovered in the post-war years, it also increased the mail volume. Manually sorting through mails while also making sure they were delivered to the correct addresses became a time-consuming and inconvenient task for workers in postal offices across the country. With overwhelming mail volume came the extended delays and wrong deliveries.
In 1943, Post Office Departments began developing a standardized coding system to improve the mail grouping for the organization, distribution, and transportation routing. By 1963, the United States was divided into five-digit postal delivery codes, known as ZIP Codes by the Post Office, that connected to regional post offices where mail sorting was completed and mail carriers were ordered to make deliveries. In 1967, everyone was required to mention the ZIP code and today almost every country uses postal codes.
Importance of ZIP Codes
Not everyone knows how it is important to identify the right ZIP code when sending a letter or a parcel. The ZIP Code system was designed by the United States Postal Service to ensure a more efficient and orderly mail distribution. The usage of correct ZIP Codes resulted in a considerable reduction in wrong deliveries and upgraded the postal delivery services.
Later, the ZIP-code system adopted a greater role in the country. Today, the United States Census uses ZIP codes to collect demographic information and data of specific regions such as education levels, household income, other population health statistics, and much more. Various companies and banks utilize the ZIP codes to calculate rates.
Despite the fact that we live in the age of new technology, it is impossible to do without sending paper letters. People send postcards to friends to congratulate them on some event, banks and other organizations send letters to inform clients about changes in providing services, etc. Traditional mail won’t lose its popularity. That’s why you should learn how to search for a ZIP code if you want your letter or parcel to reach the addressee.
What Is ZIP code and ZIP+4 Code?
Take into account that a postal code varies from country to country. Do you want to send a letter or a parcel to a person who lives in the USA?
In the United States, there are two distinct types of ZIP code systems: ZIP code and ZIP+4 code. A ZIP code consists of a 5-digit number where—the first digit denotes the national area, the next two digits stand for the sectional center facility, and the last two digits represent the post office or the delivery area.
The ZIP+4 code identifies a geographic subdivision within the five-digit delivery region by combining the original five-digit code with four additional digits. To send mail or a package, usually, the first five digits of the ZIP code are required.
The public can easily access the ZIP Code data. Private and public organizations have found ZIP codes to be a useful tool for several purposes other than mail delivery. Today, you can find the necessary ZIP code using specially designed interactive maps online. You can click on the destination area and get the code immediately. Another way to find a code instantly is to search a code by the address. The search takes minutes. Find the correct ZIP code and be sure that your letter or parcel will be delivered to the right addressee.
