If you’re a business professional involved in any kind of data analytics, then you know that zip code address is an important parameter. Whether you use the data to send mail, to do fraud detection, or for demographic research, a ZIP Code can tell you a lot about a population.
A ZIP Code is a combination of five numeric digits that designates a specific region or post office for sorting and delivery purposes. It’s a designation created in 1963 to expedite mail processing by the USPS. It was a response to rapid growth in the economy following the first and second World Wars, resulting in a massive influx of commerce and the old systems of sorting mail were breaking down under the increased load.
The first digit of a ZIP Code, identifies the general region, the next digit identifies a transportation zone, and the last two digits identify the sectional center facility or post office. Each region is assigned a different code from 0-9, with the eastern parts of the country receiving a lower number than the western regions.
The ZIP Code is then translated into an Intelligent Mail barcode by the mailer, which makes it easier for machines to sort and deliver letters to their respective destination. The barcode also helps to ensure that the correct address is on the letter and that the recipient can receive it. This is a major improvement over the older system in which a letter went through 17 different sorting stops before being delivered to its home.
SITES WE SUPPORT
SOCIAL LINKS
Comments