Postal codes in the US

[Phoenix]

I understand that in the UK and also in Singapore and China, everyone''s postal code is different from others. Even you and your next door neighbour have slightly diffferent postal codes (usually differ by one digit).

So in the US, if you and s.o. else live fairly close to each other (say within one mile), would you and they have the same EXACT postal code, or is the US system similar to that of the UK and Singapore and China?

Thanks.

 

[Loves Vintage]

It would really depend. It is likely the same zip code, but could be different. Most small towns have only one postal code, but a larger city could have many different codes, so it could vary depending upon location, even houses apart, depending upon where the "line" was drawn.

You can check for a zip code here if you have an address: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

 

[Phoenix]

Date: 9/16/2009 7:44:19 AM
Author: Loves Vintage
It would really depend. It is likely the same zip code, but could be different. Most small towns have only one postal code, but a larger city could have many different codes, so it could vary depending upon location, even houses apart, depending upon where the ''line'' was drawn.

You can check for a zip code here if you have an address: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

Thanks so much. That''s very helpful.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

It depends on the town and how it''s broken up. Small towns may have one postal (zip) code; however, bigger towns have several. I suppose if you lived on the border of two zip code areas you could have one and your neighbor could have another...

 

[D&T]

Date: 9/16/2009 12:40:20 PM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
It depends on the town and how it''s broken up. Small towns may have one postal (zip) code; however, bigger towns have several. I suppose if you lived on the border of two zip code areas you could have one and your neighbor could have another...

yep, we have many major street that divides the City and hence a different zip code, even within the same city, there are many zip codes.

 

[radiantquest]

For the most part they are broken up by towns or cities. If the city is large it will have several zip (postal) codes. It is true though that there are these "lines" that could be right between two houses.

 

[Octavia]

Around here, it''s alphabetical by towns in the region (but I''m not sure how the region is defined, exactly). So even though Ardmore and Wynnewood are neighboring towns, the zip codes are completely different (ending in -03 and -96, respectively). In the city, one block may have a completely different code than the next block. Looking it up on the USPS website is definitely the way to go!

 

[Elmorton]

Growing up, I lived in a small town, so everyone had the same zipcode. The last time DH and I moved (in a larger city than where I grew up), we moved about 6 blocks and got a new code.

 

[Lynnie]

Wow, I looked up Philadelphia (where I live). It''s 142 square miles big, and has 83 zip codes!
Where we live, 2 blocks north will put you in another zip code, and 3 blocks west will put you in another one altogether.

 

[Porridge]

Zip codes are 5 digits in the US, and there are definitely more addresses in the US than a combination of 5 digits would allow, so logic told me towns must share the same zip. But I'd asked my american aunt this question once and she said her house was unique, her neighbours all had different zips, so it's something I'd always wondered about. Good to finally get it answered!

 

[Octavia]

Porridge, there''s actually a 4-digit extension we''re technically supposed to put on our zip codes that usually is different house-to-house. But in reality, almost nobody knows or uses them.

 

[packrat]

In our area, each town has its own zip, but they''re all small towns. One thing that makes it hard to find a person is that just b/c you have the zip of a certain town, you might not have the phone prefix for that town. Growing up, we had X town address, but Y town phone number. If I know the zip extension I''ll use it.

 

[Porridge]

Date: 9/16/2009 9:05:41 PM
Author: Octavia
Porridge, there''s actually a 4-digit extension we''re technically supposed to put on our zip codes that usually is different house-to-house. But in reality, almost nobody knows or uses them.

Never knew that, how interesting. We don''t even have zip codes here in Ireland. Too small to need them I suppose.

 

[Delster]

Date: 9/17/2009 5:34:43 AM
Author: Porridge

Date: 9/16/2009 9:05:41 PM

Author: Octavia

Porridge, there''s actually a 4-digit extension we''re technically supposed to put on our zip codes that usually is different house-to-house. But in reality, almost nobody knows or uses them.

Never knew that, how interesting. We don''t even have zip codes here in Ireland. Too small to need them I suppose.

Don''t try and tell that to Noel Dempsey Porridge!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_postal_addresses

I didn''t know every house in the UK had a unique post code? I thought each post code generally captured a street or a road.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 9/16/2009 9:05:41 PM
Author: Octavia

Porridge, there's actually a 4-digit extension we're technically supposed to put on our zip codes that usually is different house-to-house. But in reality, almost nobody knows or uses them.

I didn't know if this was as specific as for each house, but I have long known that there is a four-digit addition to the five digit zip code for each of my addresses (in Virginia and Connecticut). I never bothered to learn what it is. It is only used by bulk mailers. Real people never write them out. Real people use the five digit zip codes. I thought that the four digits might be for a block or a few houses or a small section of street. It's hard to imagine that each dwelling has one!

When I was little there were no zip codes in the United States.

AGBF

 

[stephbolt]

Date: 9/16/2009 3:46:06 PM
Author: Octavia
Around here, it''s alphabetical by towns in the region (but I''m not sure how the region is defined, exactly). So even though Ardmore and Wynnewood are neighboring towns, the zip codes are completely different (ending in -03 and -96, respectively). In the city, one block may have a completely different code than the next block. Looking it up on the USPS website is definitely the way to go!

Octavia, that''s fascinating! I never knew that about DelCo, I''m in the -22 region myself.

 

[Octavia]

Date: 9/17/2009 3:10:28 PM
Author: stephbolt

Date: 9/16/2009 3:46:06 PM

Author: Octavia

Around here, it''s alphabetical by towns in the region (but I''m not sure how the region is defined, exactly). So even though Ardmore and Wynnewood are neighboring towns, the zip codes are completely different (ending in -03 and -96, respectively). In the city, one block may have a completely different code than the next block. Looking it up on the USPS website is definitely the way to go!

Octavia, that''s fascinating! I never knew that about DelCo, I''m in the -22 region myself.

Hi, kind-of neighbor! It''s true -- at my old job I did a lot of mailings so I picked up on that. Ardmore comes right after Ambler, Bryn Mawr is a few digits later, etc etc.

 

[swingirl]

Date: 9/16/2009 9:05:41 PM
Author: Octavia
Porridge, there's actually a 4-digit extension we're technically supposed to put on our zip codes that usually is different house-to-house. But in reality, almost nobody knows or uses them.

In my area the 4-digit number is for a block. My next door neighbors and everyone on my side of the street have the same 4-digit number. Across the street they have a different one.

It helps the mail person organize their delivery by the block.