In the age of emails, DMs and video calls, you might not be overly familiar with traditional mail, and you may not even know how to properly write out your address.
One of the most frequent errors in writing out an address relates to the zip code — particularly the four extra zip code numbers sometimes found at the end of your address. You may have seen these when receiving a package that was addressed automatically or you might have seen this zip code as a suggestion when ordering something online.
So, what exactly is the deal with those extra zip code numbers? We’ve got the answers.
What the traditional zip code means
When someone asks for your zip code, you probably reply with a string of five numbers. This is the norm for most people and has actually been the norm for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) since the beginning.
When zip codes were first introduced in 1963, it was a part of an initiative to make mail delivery in the U.S. more efficient by dividing the country up into zones based on mail routes. Most frequently, your five digit zip code represents the destination of the post office your mail is sent to before being handed off to your mail carrier.
Each number of a zip code corresponds to a specific piece of information about the destination. The first number, between 0-9, denotes a geographic area of the U.S. The second two numbers of a zip code specify a specific region within that geographic area and the last two are meant to indicate a specific Post Office.
Some post offices service more than one zip code but, for much of the U.S., there’s a one-to-one ratio of post offices to zip codes. This is why you’re often required to go to a specific location to conduct business with the USPS.
Fun fact: Zip codes are based on region — codes begin at 0 in the east and move towards 9 on the west coast as you cross the U.S.
What the extra four numbers mean
The extra four numbers in your zip code were introduced two decades after the initial introduction of a zip code.
As infrastructure in the U.S. grew, the five digit zip codes system had to be replaced with something more precise. In 1983, a system was created to locate buildings more precisely. A standard zip code coupled with the four extra zip code numbers can now be used to designate specific streets, buildings, houses or businesses.
How important are the four extra zip code numbers?
For most uses, the standard five digit zip code will suffice without having to know the full nine digit zip code. There are some exceptions, however.
Some businesses are eligible to receive a bulk mailing rate at a discount. This mail is sorted separately from general-delivery mail and often takes a bit longer to arrive at its destination. But, for many businesses the discount is worth it. The USPS requires a full nine-digit zip code for mail sent at a discounted bulk rate.
Another time you may find yourself wanting to know your full nine digit zip code is when looking up congressional representatives based on your address. Knowing your full zip code is the only way to identify your specific government representatives in some districts.
Regardless, knowing your full zip code will ensure that your mail is delivered correctly more often. Most mail will arrive at its destination no-problem if you just use your standard five-digit zip code, but if you’re worried about nondelivery of a package, specifying the intended destination even further doesn’t hurt your chances.
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