Fascinating information that I didn’t even know I was missing … and I will never look at zip codes the same! Thanks Elizabeth. 🙏 Always learn from you while being inspired to keep writing letters (one of my favorite things to write, from the heart & unedited).
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sora — I find that learning some of these nerdy details enriches my enjoyment of actually writing notes and letters — and that, as you know, is what it’s all about!
This is very interesting! The first time that I have read about the origin of the zip code that we all take for granted as part of an address today. Thanks!
Elizabeth, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It was a fun and informative read. And, I didn't know that Smokey the Bear was a real bear either. This information made me smile. I hope smokey's burns healed quickly. I hate thinking about that poor bear being in pain.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, JariLyn -- it was great fun to research and write. I hope Smokey healed quickly, too. He apparently lived to about 26 years old, which is several years more than the average ife expectancy of a black bear.
I use the USPS Zip Code Look up all the time and have often wondered if I'm the only one who uses it! LOL. And thanks for the info about +5 not being important for residential/personal mail. I do get flustered with "zip codes" when writing to friends in Canada or other countries that handle the digits a bit differently.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Ann! I only recently learned that the Zip+4 is not essential for personal mail. I wonder if there won’t be a time when it will be required, but I checked several sources and it’s not needed now. I always put it in my address book when I can…just in case!
This was such a fun and informative peek behind the scenes of the ZIP code system, Elizabeth. I'm fascinated by the famous ZIP codes you mentioned. If I can add one more, The Empire State Building has its own ZIP code, 10118, due to its massive size and the high volume of mail it receives. Thanks for another great newsletter!
As always, Elizabeth, you have written a fascinating article full of heretofore unknown gems. I especially loved the reference to those special zip codes reserved for noteworthy people and places. Years ago, at a presentation that I was giving to a women's group, one of the attendees who worked for the postal service shared with me how the zip codes affected her job. I had never given any thought to zip codes or where they came from. You have made zip codes all the more interesting. Thank you!!!
I don’t think so, because the song came out before Zip codes did, BUT your comment made me do a little research, and here’s a fun bit of AI trivia from the Library of Congress: “Curiously, there is a brief intersection between the two: when postal ZIP codes were first launched in 1963, the U.S. Post Office used the character Mr. ZIP and had Broadway singer Ethel Merman record a promotional jingle to the tune of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" to help the public learn the new mailing system.”
Fascinating information that I didn’t even know I was missing … and I will never look at zip codes the same! Thanks Elizabeth. 🙏 Always learn from you while being inspired to keep writing letters (one of my favorite things to write, from the heart & unedited).
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sora — I find that learning some of these nerdy details enriches my enjoyment of actually writing notes and letters — and that, as you know, is what it’s all about!
This is very interesting! The first time that I have read about the origin of the zip code that we all take for granted as part of an address today. Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I was surprised by some of the things I found too. Thanks for reading and commenting, John!
Elizabeth, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It was a fun and informative read. And, I didn't know that Smokey the Bear was a real bear either. This information made me smile. I hope smokey's burns healed quickly. I hate thinking about that poor bear being in pain.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, JariLyn -- it was great fun to research and write. I hope Smokey healed quickly, too. He apparently lived to about 26 years old, which is several years more than the average ife expectancy of a black bear.
I use the USPS Zip Code Look up all the time and have often wondered if I'm the only one who uses it! LOL. And thanks for the info about +5 not being important for residential/personal mail. I do get flustered with "zip codes" when writing to friends in Canada or other countries that handle the digits a bit differently.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Ann! I only recently learned that the Zip+4 is not essential for personal mail. I wonder if there won’t be a time when it will be required, but I checked several sources and it’s not needed now. I always put it in my address book when I can…just in case!
This was such a fun and informative peek behind the scenes of the ZIP code system, Elizabeth. I'm fascinated by the famous ZIP codes you mentioned. If I can add one more, The Empire State Building has its own ZIP code, 10118, due to its massive size and the high volume of mail it receives. Thanks for another great newsletter!
Ooooooh, that’s a great addition to the list! Thank you!
As always, Elizabeth, you have written a fascinating article full of heretofore unknown gems. I especially loved the reference to those special zip codes reserved for noteworthy people and places. Years ago, at a presentation that I was giving to a women's group, one of the attendees who worked for the postal service shared with me how the zip codes affected her job. I had never given any thought to zip codes or where they came from. You have made zip codes all the more interesting. Thank you!!!
I’m so glad, Lydia! It makes me so happy that you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing that experience!
I was kidding about the song... but very cool trivia! And I saw Mr. Zip last week at the museum.
Were you in DC? Please let me know if you ever have time for me to come meet up. I'm about 90-minutes away.
I was there last weekend for Pride on Sunday, hit the museum Monday morning and then jumped on the train. Next time for sure!!!!!!!
Totally understand — and I couldn’t have come this weekend anyway, but it would be fun.
Love this! A true postal lesson. Wonder if he also inspired the song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. :)
I don’t think so, because the song came out before Zip codes did, BUT your comment made me do a little research, and here’s a fun bit of AI trivia from the Library of Congress: “Curiously, there is a brief intersection between the two: when postal ZIP codes were first launched in 1963, the U.S. Post Office used the character Mr. ZIP and had Broadway singer Ethel Merman record a promotional jingle to the tune of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" to help the public learn the new mailing system.”
Didn't know that about Schenectady or I would have put that in the reference to the town in PE:)
Darn…you would have made it even more famous by including it in one of your great books!