Postal Zip Code Locator - Zip Code Directory Lookup

The ZIP Code is the system of postal codes which is used by the United States Postal Service (USPS). The letters ZIP actually stand for ‘Zone Improvement Plan’.

Postal zip codes are usually written in capital letters. The idea behind these zip codes is to have the mail delivered faster and more effectively to the correct address.

History of Postal Zip Codes

Postal zones were implemented for the first time in the United States in 1943. These were usually one or two digit numbers used to define the areas or postal service zones in a city.

In 1944, an employee of the USPS, Robert Moon submitted a proposal for improving the postal code system. He was working as a postal inspector.

The system began to be used in the 1960s and non-mandatory zip codes were announced on the 1st of July, 1963. Robert Moon is thus considered to be the father of the ZIP Code.

By 1967, these ZIP Codes were made compulsory for second and third class bulk mailers. Soon enough, the system began to be adopted all over.

To promote the use of ZIP Codes, the postal service even used a cartoon character called ‘Mr. ZIP’.

In 1983, the USPS adopted the ZIP+4 System of postal ZIP codes which are also referred to as ‘plus four codes’ which uses the basic 5 digit post code and adds another 4 digits to identify a particular geographic area within the postal zone area.

The postal ZIP Code is normally read by a Multiline Optical Character Reader (MLOCR) and it prints a Postnet barcode on the surface of the envelope. This Postnet barcode corresponds to 11 digits. This process has increased the efficiency of the delivery of postal services during the time it has been implemented, which has been over a decade now.

Types of Postal ZIP Codes

There are four types of postal ZIP codes:

Unique ZIP Codes – These are assigned to a single high-volume address.
P.O. Box ZIP Codes – These are assigned to P.O. Boxes at a given facility.
Military ZIP Codes – These are assigned to the US Military Mail.
Standard ZIP Codes – These are all the other ZIP Codes in practice.

Uses of ZIP Codes

These postal ZIP Codes have found their use in the efficient management of Delivery Services, and in different Statistical Analysis, in Direct Marketing Campaigns, and even on the Internet.

One of the uses is over the Internet. There are a variety of Internet websites which offer zip code locator services which help people determine the zip code of a particular address based on the first line of the address and the state code.

Often the website may also feature a zip code map which functions as a zip code finder. These websites have a zip code directory which is a database of zip codes which help people who are looking for zip code look up facilities for searching for addresses. These zip code look up facilities are very helpful to people for various purposes such as Direct Marketing and even Credit Checking purposes mentioned above.

Thus a ZIP Code has now attained the status of being an important part of your postal address.