Zip code

From Tax Rates Wiki

Mr. Zippy, the Post Office Mascot, introduced ZIP Codes to the United States in 1963.

ZIP codes were introduced in 1963 as a new way for the United States Post Office (USPS) to accurately determine entities for receiving mail. The exact number of ZIP Codes fluctuates, but generally there are between 40,000 and 45,000 active ZIP Codes. Sometimes a ZIP Code can represent a single building or high-volume mailer. The CIA has its own ZIP Code, for example. Usually, however, a ZIP Code represents a Post Office in a particular geographic location.

ZIP codes are often used as a way to determine sales tax rates, but this is not their purpose, and tax jurisdictions do not align neatly with the boundaries of ZIP codes.

Other new and exciting things from 1963:

• Chubby Checker
• lava lamps
• push-button desktop phones
• audio cassette tapes.

In 1983, the USPS extended ZIP Codes with the +4 system, moving to optional nine digit codes, adding granularity to the original ZIP Codes. These subcodes can represent PO Boxes, city blocks, or other entities. They do not necessarily represent geographic subsections.

Other new and exciting things from 1983:

• Lotus 1-2-3, the first popular spreadsheet software
• The Final Episode of MASH
• Minivans

References

Georgia struggles to collect tax by ZIP Code