| Everyone knows what the zip code is, and what | | | | assigned to it. As well, a sectional center |
| it is essentially used for, but how many | | | | facility will service an area in a state next |
| people actually know how it works? Chances | | | | to it. The code 739 in Oklahoma is assigned |
| are, very few actually understand the inner | | | | to Liberal, Kansas, while 865 in Arizona is |
| workings of a very common piece of the postal | | | | assigned to Gallup, New Mexico. New England |
| service puzzle. Essentially, zip codes are | | | | has the lowest zip codes in the country |
| numbered with the first digit representing a | | | | because they begin with 0, as is the case in |
| certain group of states in the United States. | | | | Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The |
| That being said, several states can have the | | | | lowest zip code in the entire country is |
| same number. Connecticut, Main, New Jersey, | | | | Holtsville, New York, which has a 00501 zip |
| Rhode Island, Vermont and six other | | | | code. Other low codes include 00601 in |
| locations, including Army Post Office Europe, | | | | Adjuntas, Puetro Rico, 01001 in Agawam, |
| are represented by 0, while Delaware, New | | | | Massachusetts and 01002 in Amherst, |
| York and Pennsylvania is represented by 1. | | | | Massachusetts. Stretching out south from the |
| This number system goes up to 9, with every | | | | East Coast, postal codes begin to increase in |
| single number having at least three different | | | | size. For example, 02115 is in Boston, while |
| states assigned to it. Of all the numbers, 0 | | | | 10001 is in New York City. Philadelphia has |
| and 9 have the most states assigned to them, | | | | 19103, while Washington has 20008, Atlanta |
| while 1 has only three and 4 has only four. | | | | 30303 and Miami 33130. Going west and north |
| The second and third digits of the zip code | | | | from the East Coast, the numbers increase |
| represent a region in a particular state. | | | | even more, with 40202 in Louisville, |
| Often, this will be a large city, or a vast | | | | Kentucky, 60601 in Des Moines, Iowa, 77063 in |
| rural area like in the Midwest or Alaska. The | | | | Houston, 80202 in Denver, 98101 in Seattle |
| fourth and fifth numbers in the zip code | | | | and 99950 in Ketchikan, Alaska. |
| represent a particular delivery address | | | | |
| within that region. | | | | The zip code is a fascinating implementation |
| | | | of processing that allows the post office to |
| Generally, the main town or city in a region | | | | delivery packages and mail faster than they |
| gets the first zip codes for that area, with | | | | would without it. Through the postal code, |
| the rest of the numerical order of the zip | | | | the entire country can be divided into a |
| code in that region following the | | | | number of digits that allow sorters to know |
| alphabetical order of the cities or towns. | | | | exactly where the piece of mail is meant to |
| Sometimes, zip codes will actually span state | | | | be delivered, quickly and easily. Without the |
| boundaries. This is done to ensure efficient | | | | zip code, it is highly likely that the post |
| postal delivery and can be found in military | | | | office would have folded long ago under the |
| facilities that span multiple states, or in | | | | crushing demand of millions of pieces of mail |
| remote areas where two areas of a state can | | | | that need to be delivered on a daily basis. |
| be serviced in conjunction. | | | | It can be said that the zip code has |
| | | | revolutionized the postal system, in the |
| The first three digits of the code generally | | | | United States and abroad, where various |
| correspond to a sectional center facility | | | | companies use a similar system. With such an |
| which sorts the mail for the area. Sometimes, | | | | easy system, the postal service is able to |
| an area will have more than one three digit | | | | make sure all of its customers are happy |
| codes assigned to it. For example, the | | | | because nothing is worse than losing your |
| sectional center facility in Merrifield, | | | | mail. |
| North Virginia has 220, 221, 222 and 223 | | | | |