Many people believe that a zip code is a piece of unnecessary information. However, not everything is that simple. You need to provide this information correctly if you want your letters to arrive on time and at the right address.

The USA Postal Service, or USPS, uses these data for long. Initially, USPS zip codes were different. ZIP initially means Zone Improvement Plan. It has been introduced in 1963, however, it was not applied widely. Only in 1983, the government returned to the idea of the codes.

Initially, only three-digit codes existed. They used to indicate the Central Sorting Facility. Later, more digits were added, to identify more precise locations.

Now, these data shall be indicated on all the deliveries in the USA. Exceptions are foreign countries except those that are integrated into the USA postal system and the locations of the USA military forces in other countries.

There are several kinds of ZIP codes:

• Unique: they are assigned to a business or a building if it receives a lot of deliveries;
• Post-office box only: they are used for post boxes only, not for other delivery kinds;
• Military: they are used to send letters to the military;
• Standard: they are used for common purposes, normal deliveries.

Code Elements and Their Meaning

Each code has its specific elements. For example, the first, the primary number, indicates a state. Note please that one number can be assigned to several states. For example, “0” is assigned to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and several more states.

The second and third digits indicate the sectional central facility. And, finally, the fourth and the fifth digits indicate a particular area, if it is the city, or a village or a town.

If you don’t indicate these data, your mail might be delayed in the best case, or it might be lost at all. However, what can you do if you don’t know this information?

Now, there are plenty of sources where you can find a code. The best ones are very easy-to-use even though you might be not tech-savvy at all. The best tools offer options to choose from:

• You might just select a region from the list on the website;
• You might click on the map, and the code will be displayed. You can zoom the map in to see more detailed information;
• You can check in the search bar.

Don’t look for some logic, such as dependence on a geographical location, etc. Of course, geographical location matters. However, other, more important thing matters: delivery routes. Areas are assigned codes based on the delivery routes to make the delivery as fast as efficient as it is possible.

Now, you know why all the data shall be correct, including those strange numbers that seem not to have any sense at all. If you don’t do so, your mail might be lost. And anyway, why should you risk if finding all the needed information is so easy nowadays?