How to Find a Zip Code

When you want to find the zip code of a place, you do not need to go and bug a postman or go to a post office. Help is available online in the form of a zip code finder.

A Brief History of Zip Code

A zip code is a short form for 'Zonal Improvement Plan' code. It is a code assigned to every location or suburb in the USA. It is mandatory that you include the zip code, in the written address when you write a letter or post anything. That is, if you want it to reach the right doorstep. The five digit ZIP code system was introduced by the USPOD (United States Post Office Department) on the 1st of July, 1963. The idea of a ZIP code was the brainchild of a postal employee named Robert Moon. He had submitted his idea for perusal in 1944 when he was working in the field as a postal inspector. After having a look at the dismal performance of the existing postal system, he suggested that if a uniform code system was introduced that labeled every place in USA, mail delivery would be simpler. It took a lot of years for the authorities to appreciate the usefulness and smartness of his practical suggestion which was ultimately brought into reality.

The US postal service even had a mascot of Mr.Zip to promote the use of the zip code. By 1967, the use of zip code had a widespread use, throughout USA. Due to the expansion of cities and towns across USA, eventually more zip codes were needed to adequately label all the new suburbs. Therefore in 1983, the US postal department introduced the ZIP+4 system of code. It added an additional 4 numbers to existing codes. However the additional four numbers added did not really stick. It is not necessary to specify the additional four numbers nowadays. The first five numbers will do along with as detailed an address, you can provide. With machines that use optical character recognition, being employed by the postal department now, this task has become very easy. Because the machine itself sprays the whole zip code on the letter after reading the address.

How To Search For a Zip Code

So much so, for zip code history, now let's move on to the intricacies. A zip code of a place is assigned very systematically. The first number denotes a group of states in the USA. The next number selects a particular city or region in those states. Every next number up till the last one narrows down the address to a city, then a suburb and ultimately to a city block. So the zip code is really a cryptic way of writing an address!

There are sites on the net that can find the zip code for you. The United states post office homepage, has a facility that gives you the zip code of a particular area, if you supply the address in an online entry form provided by them. This can provide you with a zip code in a fraction of a second. There are many private sites with zip code finder, that can do the same for you, if you just Google it!