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Everyone knows what the zip code is, and what it is essentially used for, but how many people actually know how it works? Chances are, very few actually understand the inner workings of a very common piece of the postal service puzzle. Essentially, zip codes are numbered with the first digit representing a certain group of states in the United States. That being said, several states can have the same number. Connecticut, Main, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and six other locations, including Army Post Office Europe, are represented by 0, while Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania is represented by 1. This number system goes up to 9, with every single number having at least three different states assigned to it. Of all the numbers, 0 and 9 have the most states assigned to them, while 1 has only three and 4 has only four. The second and third digits of the zip code represent a region in a particular state. Often, this will be a large city, or a vast rural area like in the Midwest or Alaska. The fourth and fifth numbers in the zip code represent a particular delivery address within that region.

Generally, the main town or city in a region gets the first zip codes for that area, with the rest of the numerical order of the zip code in that region following the alphabetical order of the cities or towns. Sometimes, zip codes will actually span state boundaries. This is done to ensure efficient postal delivery and can be found in military facilities that span multiple states, or in remote areas where two areas of a state can be serviced in conjunction.
The first three digits of the code generally correspond to a sectional center facility which sorts the mail for the area. Sometimes, an area will have more than one three digit codes assigned to it. For example, the sectional center facility in Merrifield, North Virginia has 220, 221, 222 and 223 assigned to it. As well, a sectional center facility will service an area in a state next to it. The code 739 in Oklahoma is assigned to Liberal, Kansas, while 865 in Arizona is assigned to Gallup, New Mexico. New England has the lowest zip codes in the country because they begin with 0, as is the case in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The lowest zip code in the entire country is Holtsville, New York, which has a 00501 zip code. Other low codes include 00601 in Adjuntas, Puetro Rico, 01001 in Agawam, Massachusetts and 01002 in Amherst, Massachusetts. Stretching out south from the East Coast, postal codes begin to increase in size. For example, 02115 is in Boston, while 10001 is in New York City. Philadelphia has 19103, while Washington has 20008, Atlanta 30303 and Miami 33130. Going west and north from the East Coast, the numbers increase even more, with 40202 in Louisville, Kentucky, 60601 in Des Moines, Iowa, 77063 in Houston, 80202 in Denver, 98101 in Seattle and 99950 in Ketchikan, Alaska.

The zip code is a fascinating implementation of processing that allows the post office to delivery packages and mail faster than they would without it. Through the postal code, the entire country can be divided into a number of digits that allow sorters to know exactly where the piece of mail is meant to be delivered, quickly and easily. Without the zip code, it is highly likely that the post office would have folded long ago under the crushing demand of millions of pieces of mail that need to be delivered on a daily basis. It can be said that the zip code has revolutionized the postal system, in the United States and abroad, where various companies use a similar system. With such an easy system, the postal service is able to make sure all of its customers are happy because nothing is worse than losing your mail.

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