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What is US Postal Code or US Postal Zip Code:

The USA Postal Code or USA Postal Zip Code is a 5 digit numeric code introduced in 1963 by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and extended in 1983 to enhance the delivery of mail and designation of location. The code extension in 1983 includes the five digits of the ZIP Code, followed by a hyphen and another four digits which is used to identify a more specific location.

In 1983, the U.S. Postal Service introduced an expanded ZIP Code system that it called ZIP+4, often called "plus-four codes", "add-on codes", or "add-ons". A ZIP+4 Code makes use of the basic five-digit code plus four extra digits to identify a geographic segment that is within the five-digit delivery area, such as a group of apartments, a city block, an individual high-volume receiver of mail, a post office box, or any other unit that could use an extra identifier to aid in efficient mail sorting and delivery.

For Post Office Boxes, the general (but not invariable) rule is that each post office box would have its own ZIP+4 code. The add-on code is mostly made up of one of the following: the last four digits of the box number, zero plus the last three digits of the box number, or, if the box number is made up of lessr than four digits, enough zeros are attached to the front of the box number to bring up a four-digit number. However, there is no uniform rule, so the ZIP+4 Code must be looked up individually for each of the box.

The ZIPCODE - Zone Improvement Plan Code is an addressing system used to quickly assign and better allocate addresses for easy access and mail delivery. Mail sent using Zipcodes travels much more better and quickly (i.e, zipping along) when senders make use of the code in the postal address. The term ZIP Code was originally registered as a service trademark by the USPS, but the registration expired in 1997.

Despite the fact that the USPS - United States Postal Service was the organization that first developed and implemented ZIP codes, many shipping companies continue to use them. These code or identifiers are used by UPS, FedEx, and DHL, among other shipping companies for delivery of parcels, goods and orders. The cost of shipping and the amount of time it takes to deliver packages are both determined by couriers using postal codes and the distance involved. There are a number of states that each has their own unique set of ZIP codes, which are not shared with the rest of the country.

The format of a ZIP code may be formatted differently in some instances. In certain ZIP codes, for instance, hyphens are not required in the address. In some encryption systems, the use of two-letter combinations is also permitted. For instance, both 40074 and 40075 are valid postal codes that can be used for the Hillsboro, Oregon, area in the United States.

In the United States, each state has its own unique postal code, but those codes are all the same. The only two states that are not subject to this regulation are Texas and Arizona. Any and all post offices will accept and process addresses conforming to that standard so long as ZIP codes are assigned in a uniform manner. Some ZIP codes have been corrupted due to the existence of duplicate addresses or because of shifts in population.

The United States Postal Code Format:

The 5-Digit US Postal Code structure, characters and features are explained here:
1xxxx: This is the first digit which represents a broader area. The number 1 for example: is used to identify California (CA), Texas (TX) or Alaska (AK).
x23xx: The second and third digits represent the area’s (SCF) - Sectional Center Facility — which are digits pertaining to Western Nassau County.
xxx45: The fourth and fifth digits close in on a specific location, area, city or town as the case may be.
The US Postal Code format is the one that is considered to be the standard. And because of these postcodes, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is able to more easily deliver mail, which improves the efficiency of the postal system.
The US Postal Zip Code was modified by the addition of a dash and four more digits in 1983. This new code was given the name "ZIP+4". The addition of four more digits has resulted in great improvements in mail delivery and the reliability of the US addressing system.

How Can I Find My Postal Code or Zip Code in USA?

There are several ways to find out the us zip code, us postcode or postal code of any location in the united states of america, but we would be using one of the United States Zip code site in this example because it provides an interface to help you get the specific zip/postal code of your Town, Area or Street. Follow the steps below to search for a zip code or postcode of a location in the United States.
1. Go to United States Postal Code Website
2. On the search form that is at the top of the page, enter in the address, city or county that you want to find its zip.
3. Click on search to submit the form and query for the location you entered.
4. Your Zip code or postal code will be displayed.

Types Of US Postal Zip Code

There are four types of US ZIP Codes and they are:
1. Unique Code: assigned to individual addresses.
2. PO Box Code Post Office Box-only code used only for PO Boxes at a given facility.
3. Military Code: This type of Zip Code is used to route mail for the U.S. military
4. Standard Code: all standard 5 digit ZIP Codes.
ZIP Codes in general are numbered with its first digit denoting a certain group of U.S. states, the second and third digits together representing a region in that particular group (or maybe a large city) and the fourth and fifth digits denoting a group of delivery addresses that are within that region.

Are There Special USA Postal Codes?

As is the case with everything else in life, there are always going to be instances that do not conform to the norm. The armed forces of the United States of America make use of postal codes that consist of nine digits. Because of the codes, it is now much simpler to transport mail between different military facilities and bases. Each military unit is provided with a nine-digit number that is exclusively theirs so that the mail can be delivered more quickly. Some military establishments are given two different postal codes as a result of the fact that their locations are not considered addresses but rather installations.

The United States Postal Service makes use of a wide variety of additional special codes and addresses. You can find these addresses and zip codes by using the locator tool on the United States Postal Service website. You can use this tool to look up a ZIP code, zipcode and postcodes in case you ever find yourself in a situation where you urgently need to.

The Future of Postal Codes: what does it hold?

The use of postal codes is gradually being phased out. In certain instances, the use of these codes is being deprecated. Now, residents of New York City are required to provide their full street address rather than relying on their ZIP code alone.

Using the complete street address is required in order for mail to be delivered to the physical address. Although they have not yet established themselves, there is a growing interest in them. Even though the United States has benefited greatly from using ZIP codes over the past half century, it is impossible to predict what the next half century will bring.

USA Postal Code or Zip Code Search Terms

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