History of the Zip Code System
History of The Zip Code System
Did you ever stop to think about the reason behind the ZIP code system, and why the kids from Beverly Hills lived in the 90210 area and you didn't? Well, with evolution came the need for a more complete geographical coding system. So zip codes were created to facilitate the United States' mail delivery. The ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) is a 5-digit code that marks a specific geographical region in the US. Made up of three parts, the first digit (90210) represents the broad region in the country, ranging from the number one in the Northeast, to nine in the far West. The second part of the code is composed of two digits (90210) that provide a more detailed breakdown of the area in question, narrowed down by population masses and transportation systems that give access to sectional centers (which is Post Office Department lingo for concentrated areas of population). The last two digits (90210), making up the final part of the zip code, represent the postal zones in larger cities and their assigned smaller post offices. But before this elaborate geographical separation was adopted, and as various ways of delivering mail were explored -- be it via railroads, automobiles, airplanes, mules, or even guided missiles -- it was clear that change was needed. The constant increase in the amount of business mail, accounting for about 80% of the total mail delivered by early 1963, accelerated the creation of the zip code as we know it, which was implemented later that year, on July 1st.
We tend to take many things that simplify our lives for granted and the zip code is up there with the rest. But believe it or not, many people are interested in understanding the logic behind it and how it came to be. And you happen to be one of them. Zip codes set a milestone in mail history. If you've ever played the computer game SimCity, for example, you'd understand the importance of setting up all major infrastructures in a city. From a water distribution system to a common transportation network, zip codes rank high in importance for a city's development. And with the need for continual advancement, mail users (which includes virtually everyone) were open to the improvement of the zip code. So in 1983, the ZIP+4 code was introduced to further divide areas so as to accelerate the...