About ZIP Codes
The ZIP Code, or Zone Improvement Plan code, evolved as a necessity from the exponential increase in mail volume in the United States between 1930 and 1960. By the early 1960's, over 75% of mail delivered was related to business correspondence vice personal. As a result, the coding system as we know it now was adopted in order to provide greater efficiencies with mail delivery throughout the country. To bring further efficiencies to mail delivery, the "plus four" addition to zip codes was adopted in the 1980's with the post office continuing to improve mail distribution and delivery processes through the use of technology.
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History
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Prior to World War II, the United States Post Office still shipped the mail primarily by railroad through major rail hubs throughout the nation. At the time, there were more than 9,000 trains dedicated to carrying the mail. Although this method worked, it proved inefficient with requiring the re-sorting and redistributing of the mail at every major stop the train made. As business mail continued to increase with the advent of the computer for billing, mail distribution became problematic. As a result, the Post Office conducted a study in the summer of 1962 and selected the system that we now know as the zip code. In 1967 use of the zip code was made mandatory in the United States. By 1983, the U.S. Post Office found the need for further refinement of the current system and adopted the zip + four system which added four digits to the existing system to increase efficiency of mail delivery.
Significance
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The significance of the U.S. Postal Service zip code can not be overstated. As the computer enabled further Industrialization of the country and the ability to track and conduct cross-state commerce, the quantity of mail being sent rose exponentially. The adoption of the zip code significantly reduced the amount of time that mail had to be sorted in the major rail hubs within the United States. This reduction resulted in decreased delivery times and proved a boon to businesses throughout the country.
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Function
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The function of the zip code is to provide a more efficient means for routing mail to ensure more timely delivery. The five-digit zip code was adopted for this purpose. The first digit in the zip code represents a group of states in the United States. The next two digits represent a region within the grouping of states, and the final two digits are a subset of addresses within a region. Additionally, the first three numbers in a zip code identify the sectional center which is the distribution center for that area. A sectional center can service a number of codes depending on the mail volume associated with the area.
Features
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In 1983, the U.S. Post Office modified the existing five-digit system through the adoption of the Zip + 4 code. The new system adds four additional numbers appended to the existing 5 numbers. This identifies a subset or geographic segment within the five digit area to further aid mail with mail delivery and sorting. Although not required for use by the consumer, the post office normally appends the + 4 code to addresses through its multiline optical character reader which determines the correct code. The reader prints a barcode on the mail which further increases the accuracy of mail sorting.
Potential
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Although the current zip code and sorting system has remained relatively unchanged for the last 10 years, there remains great potential to further enhance the existing zip code system. As more and more consumers subscribe to and use broadband Internet services, incorporation of web services into post office customer service will continue to expand. Already in the past three years, the U.S. Post Office allows customers to order boxes, pay for postage, and schedule delivery online based on the delivery zone framework that the zip code system provides.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Wikipedia
