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 postal knowledge.

1. 15 facts you probably didn’t
know about ZIP Codes

2. 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.

3. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

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

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