15 facts you probably didn’t know about ZIP

Codes

ZIP Codes have become part of everyday life for US citizens but how much do you really know about them?

We found 15 fun and fascinating facts to test your knowledge.

1. There are around 42,000 ZIP Codes in the United States, compared to 861,094 postal codes in Canada.

2. With many postal professionals serving in the war, the first US postal zone system was introduced in 1943 with 2 digits to help novice clerks sort mail.

ZIP facts via @PCApredict

3. To cope with growing mail volumes, an improved postal zone system with 5 digit codes was developed in 1963.

4. There are 4 types of ZIP Code: ‘Unique’ (for high volume addresses), ‘PO Boxes’, ‘Military’ & ‘Standard’.

ZIP facts via @PCApredict

5. Wal-Mart HQ, Dodger Stadium, the White House and the Empire State Building all have their own, unique ZIP Code.

6. ZIP stands for ‘Zone Improvement Plan’.7. The US Post Office adopted ‘Mr ZIP’ aka

‘Zippy’ (designed by the son of a postman) to persuade citizens to use the code in mailing addresses, promising speedy and efficient deliveries in return.

ZIP facts via @PCApredict

8. A new ZIP + 4 zoning system was created in 1983, adding 4 extra digits to identify carrier route and block.

9. The 9 digit ZIP Code is primarily used by businesses as they sometimes get a discount on the cost of mailing for doing so.

ZIP facts via @PCApredict

10. Aside from mail delivery, ZIP Codes are also used in credit card authorization and to determine insurance ratings.

11.Most addresses get scanned and converted to an 11 digit barcode containing the ZIP + 4 and 2 digits representing the delivery point.

12.The first digit in a ZIP code represents a group of states, eg: 1 Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania. Codes count up from east coast towards the west.

ZIP facts via @PCApredict

13.The average population per ZIP Code is 7,631.

14.There are almost 5 thousand changes to ZIP codes each year; new codes are created and old ones can be retired.

ZIP facts via @PCApredict

15. The ZIP Code 12345 belongs to General Electric in Schenectady, NY.

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