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Some General Info about ZIP Codes

In the United States, postal codes are called ZIP codes. ZIP stands for Zone Improvement Plan. The idea is that mail will be delivered faster and more efficiently when ZIP codes are used. US ZIP codes are 5 digits long.

An extended version, called ZIP+4, adds and extra four digits, and indicates a more specific location.

The term "ZIP code" is not registered as a trademark by the US Postal Service.

When Were ZIP Codes Developed?

The first ZIP codes appeared in 1943, and were used for large cities. At first they just had two digits, but soon it became clear that a better system was needed. A 3-digit version was proposed in 1944 by Robert Moon, a post office employee, and is called the "Father of the ZIP code". By the 1960's ZIP codes for the entire country were made available. At first, the first two digits of the ZIP code were the same as the original 2-digit ZIP code.

To promote the use of ZIP codes to speed up mail delivery, the post office came out with a little character named Mr. ZIP. Mr. ZIP appeared on advertisements and posters, but never actually made it onto a stamp. Poor Mr. ZIP, you will be missed.

Random Facts About the United States Postal Service (USPS)

Contrary to popular myth, there was mail in the United States before Benjamin Franklin created the United States Postal Service in 1775. It was started nearly a century earlier in 1692, by King William and Queen Mary, "to erect, settle and establish within the chief parts of their majesties' colonies and plantations in America, an office or offices for the receiving and dispatching letters and pacquets, and to receive, send and deliver the same under such rates and sums of money as the planters shall agree to give, and to hold and enjoy the same for the term of twenty-one years."

Franklin's department became the Post Office Department in 1792, and the Postmaster General has since been one of those in the line of succession to become President.

The USPS is the third largest employer in the United States and operates the largest non-military vehicle fleet in the world - however not a single mail truck has a license plate!

The Army Post Office and Fleet Post Office are jointly operated by the USPS and the Department of Defense to deliver mail to the military.

Fun ZIP Code Facts in the Media

• The most famous ZIP code is 90210, from the TV shows Beverly Hills 90210 and Dr. 90210.
• Seinfeld quipped about ZIP codes: Newman, a mailman, confided "I'll tell you a little secret about ZIP code - they're meaningless!"
• On The Simpsons, a movie studio with a little character who looked suspiciously like Mr. ZIP successfully sued the United States Post Office for copyright infringement.
• The Simpsons poked fun at ZIP codes again when Lisa asks what ZIP+4 codes are for, and is told that they are "citizen relocation codes".
• On Veronica Mars, people who live in upscale ZIP code 90909 are called "09ers".
• On Full House, the ZIP code for Wayne, NJ was a palindrome: 07470.
• The ZIP code for Hooterville on Green Acres was the fictitious 40516 "and a half."
• Harvard University publicizes its ZIP code with the magazine 02138 and mugs and T-shirts.
• National Geographic writes an article about a given ZIP code in every edition of their magazine.
• The villain Chandell in Batman had the unlikely ZIP code of 9999979.
• Newton Falls, OH made a web site for its extraordinarily groovy ZIP code: 44444.com.
• Charles Schultz had a minor character in his comic strip Peanuts whose last name was the ZIP code for Sebastopol, 95472.
• Santa Claus gets many letters addressed to the North Pole with the valid (but wrong) ZIP code 12345.
• Smokey Bear, mascot of the US Forest Service, has his own ZIP code for some strange reason: 20252.