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In 1983, the zip + 4 format we now use (e.g., 60601-1635) was introduced to support delivery to densely populated areas. The first three digits before the hyphen identify the sectional center or large city. The second two classify the post office facility or delivery area.

These last 4 digits represent specific delivery routes within delivery areas. This extra detail means an even more precise matching to a more granular level. It could represent a handful of houses on one side of a street, or even a single building that receives a high volume of mail.

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Addresses (ZIP code present) USPS abbreviations are used for both the street address and state, and there is no punctuation in the lines for the street address or city, state and ZIP code. Write to Paul and Mary Moore, 1313 E Main St, Portage MI 49024-2001.

There may be an extended code (ZIP+4), where a hyphen and a further four digits are added to the five-digit code. If you have the full 9-digit ZIP code you can include this, however, the first five digits are usually adequate.

ZIP Codes are numbered with the first digit representing a certain group of U.S. states, the second and third digits together representing a region in that group (or perhaps a large city) and the fourth and fifth digits representing a group of delivery addresses within that region.

The ZIP in ZIP Code stands for Zone Improvement Plan, and it was introduced July 1, 1963, as part of a larger Postal Service Nationwide Improved Mail Service (NIMS) plan to improve the speed of mail delivery.