Talk:ZIP Code

Mention Mr. Zip? --Daniel C. Boyer

Obviously before my time. Description? Years? In movies? On TV? In school educational films? What? --Brion

See external link. --Daniel C. Boyer

"In general, zip codes have no intrinsic meaning; however, the area around Concord, Massachusetts? has the zip code 01776." -- what is meaningful about the number 01776? -- Tarquin 09:37 Oct 8, 2002 (UTC)

If I'm correct (I'm not an American), Concord's one of the places where the American Revolution began, and in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed. Jeronimo

• • Correct, and noted in article

dml

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Removed the following from article:

• In general, ZIP codes have no intrinsic meaning; however, the area around Concord, Massachusetts has the ZIP code 01776, representing the year of America's Declaration of Independence, as the Battle of Lexington and Concord was one of the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War (though it took place in April 1775).

Actually, Concord's zip is 01742; Sudbury (6 miles away)is 01776 and Wayland (8 miles away) is 01778. However, these predate ZIP codes. Concord's post office was "Boston 42, Mass." or sometimes "Boston 42, Mass." and Sudbury was "Boston 76, Mass." or sometimes "Boston 76, Mass." -- Bcorr 19:58, 1 Oct 2003 (UTC)

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Source of the "secret White House ZIP Code" bit, anyone? -Penta 04:30, 21 May 2004 (UTC)

• It's mentioned in a deposition from Travelgate: [1] (http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEPOSITIONS/huber.htm) (text search for "zip code"), assuming that transcript is legitimate -- saying that the President is informed of his private zip code upon taking office. There is also the text of a speech by President Clinton ([2] (http://clinton6.nara.gov/2000/03/2000-03-03-presidential-remarks-to-aspen-institute.html)) where he explicitly mentions the special zip code that he has given out to "ordinary people that he grew up with". It was also mentioned in the media, but most of the references I found specifically mentioned President Clinton. These special ZIPs may be specific to each President, and the current President may or may not have one.
  Also, this link at whitehouse.gov [3] (http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/connection/20011012.html) states that the USPS can and does create special zip codes for specific government functions, but doesn't state that the President has one.
  Even if the President does have one, there's no reason here to believe that it is a unique 5-digit ZIP; it could just be a special +4 code. Which is about as "special" as having your own post-office box. - KeithTyler 17:42, Oct 11, 2004 (UTC)

Does anyone know the source/reasoning of the two letter state abbrieviations? I've always wondered why Iowa is IA and not IO, for example. --Feitclub 20:38, Sep 6, 2004 (UTC)

White House ZIP Code

The ZIP Code for the White House is 20500. It's been my understanding that the President's friends are given a special code they write on envelopes that ensures it reaches him and doesn't go into the slush pile. I read this many years ago and it was a plot point in a "West Wing" episode, as well. PedanticallySpeaking 16:49, Oct 11, 2004 (UTC)

Most of the 205xx space is taken up either by the White House or by the DC Post Office. (Oddly, 20500-20502 centers at Pennsylvania Ave, but 20509 centers on E st in the middle of the grounds.) 20528 also centers on the White House grounds. - KeithTyler 18:06, Oct 11, 2004 (UTC)

Change frequency

A new zipcode database is published every month now. I would like to know about how many zipcodes change every month, and what grace periods communities have to respond.

The answer is of interest to those of use who use the data for zipcode-based searches, and need to know how frequently it's necessary to freshen the data.

I'm personally not aware of a case where a location's ZIP codes have changed, but hopefully someone else may know of one. My expectation is that ZIP codes are mostly created for newly developed areas (and sometimes skyscrapers) but not split a la Area codes.

Actually, ZIP codes can be split or renumbered. Both of these things happened in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 1981. The new ZIP codes became effective on the day on which we were notified of them, and we were given a one-year grace period to change over.

The USPS is a federally managed agency (or something), so it would seem clear that there is no grace period needed. The post office(s) in the area are aware of the ZIP code, and begin honoring it immediately.

See above. The post offices are aware of the new ZIP code, but the rest of us need time to notify others of the change, use up old stationery, and the like.

Keep in mind that the zipcode database also includes +4 codes, which are likely added a lot more often than the base 5-digit codes.

USPS provides a flat file called ZIPMove (http://www.usps.com/ncsc/addressinfo/zipmove.htm) that provides a list of changes in zip codes; this appears to be a pay service.

Keith D. Tyler [flame] 20:04, Feb 11, 2005 (UTC)