Americans, do you know your zipcode?

[stormerne]

I noticed I forgot to mention we also ask the house number.

You need to ask for the apartment number too, which is often preceded by a # symbol. Many apartment blocks are called by a number rather than a name, so you have two sets of numbers, one is the house number and the other is the apartment number.

When handwritten, the apartment number goes at the right with the house number on the left of the same line (e.g. 8020 West Maryland Ave #123). However, it's usual in the US to have an optional second line to the address on web-based forms (in additional to normal address line, city, state and zip) and the apartment number either as Apt NNN or #NNN goes on that line, if applicable. I know it seems strange to a European, but - yes - that means the apartment number really is two lines after the recipient's name on the address label, and not the first line after.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Good info, thanks

 

[Quintillus]

I don't know the last 4 digits of my current zipcode, but I've only lived here 3+ months. I know the last 4 for my parents' house, and my university's address. The latter was easy (0001), the former was because I'd lived there for my whole life. I can't anticipate ever needing to know the last 4 digits of my zip code - it isn't necessary for the post to arrive. I think the advantage of it for the post office is for automatically sorting.

It's noteworthy that for my university, every single student at the university had the same 9-digit ZIP code. So if you just included the zip code and address, it could go to any of a few thousand students (though the local P.O. probably would have taken the time to sort it out by name). The P.O. box was necessary if you weren't going to include the name.

I'd find it a minor annoyance if I had to enter the last 4 digits of my ZIP code on a website, as I'd have to go searching for it and they wouldn't actually need it for anything. It would be more annoying if I needed it at a physical store (for shipping a large item, perhaps), as then I'd have to make a return trip home to go find it.

 

[Omega124]

My zipcode is 00000. I live in the American Moon colony.

I never heard of the ZIP+4 until today. I'll have to check out what mine is sometime.

 

[Elta]

It's safe to say that everyone knows their 5 digit code and not their 4.

All you need to mail -

3434 Blah St. (Number and name)
City
State
Five digit zip
Apartment name is applicable.

Side note: All zipcodes within a state start with the same two numbers:
Nevada is 89XXX.

 

[Quintillus]

Side note: All zipcodes within a state start with the same two numbers:
Nevada is 89XXX.

Not true. Ohio, for example, has cities with both 43xxx and 44xxx as their ZIP codes. I'd imagine some other large states are similar, but I can only speak for sure about Ohio.

Nice webpage link, Bamspeedy. Quite some amusing shipments there!

 

[_random_]

Not true. Ohio, for example, has cities with both 43xxx and 44xxx as their ZIP codes. I'd imagine some other large states are similar, but I can only speak for sure about Ohio.

We also have 45xxx, like me.
Edit- Here be a handy map:

 

[Elta]

Not true. Ohio, for example, has cities with both 43xxx and 44xxx as their ZIP codes. I'd imagine some other large states are similar, but I can only speak for sure about Ohio.

I suppose it is because Nevada has such a small population :cringe

My bad.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

I've known my 5 digit zipcode for as long as I can remember, but had to go to the USPS website to look up my zip+4.


The 5 digit zip code will get the mail to the proper post office, from which it will be delivered based on street address or PO box number. It might end up being delivered slightly faster if you use the whole number and it doesn't have to be sorted at the post office first, but I I don;t know that for sure.

 

[madviking]

Cool applet I found years ago.

 

[Gooblah]

Cool applet I found years ago.

THAT IS SO COOL!

I love applets that help you visualize things like that, and that they used a space/lighting image thing made it even better IMO.

 

[GoodGame]

It's easy to get the 5+4 number from any piece of official/business mail, or through the USPS. I memorize mine, since I live in a multi-story apartment complex with a single street address.

 

[Ajidica]

I know the first part of my zipcode (55XXX), but not the second part.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The +xxxx provides the postal carrier route information in the mail sorting process. The same +xxxx pieces of mail all go to one carrier who will deliver it to your address.

 

[GoodGame]

The +xxxx provides the postal carrier route information in the mail sorting process. The same +xxxx pieces of mail all go to one carrier who will deliver it to your address.

For an apartment building each +4 number actually denotes a range of apartment numbers too.

 

[squall78]

My zipcode is 00000. I live in the American Moon colony.

I never heard of the ZIP+4 until today. I'll have to check out what mine is sometime.

That sounds great. We can invade liberate you and set up a nice city up there

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Well, the form has been made. No auto-complete whatsoever. Thanks for your input, it helped my convince our benevolent leaders that their love-child, the autocomplete, may work fine in the Netherlands, but won't do it for the US. Size issues.

All is manual now. It really does seem it's the way you guys are used to it.

Ta very much!