Johnnie St. Vrain: Everything you need to know about ZIP codes
Sep. 19—Dear Readers: Johnnie expects to have a fresh column next week. Here's a column that was published originally on July 2, 2012.
Dear Johnnie: I have many little questions on the same topic. What are all the ZIP codes of Longmont? What are the boundaries for the many ZIP codes of Longmont? How are they decided?
Thanks for your sleuthing. — Wondering in the 80501
Dear Wondering in the 80501: Longmont has four ZIP codes — 80501, 80502, 80503 and 80504.
I won't get too detailed with the boundaries, but they roughly are as follows:
80501 is bounded by Colo. Highway 66 on the north, Hover Street on the west and Pike Road on the south. Its eastern boundary runs along Martin Street down to Third Avenue, then out to County Line Road and south to Weld County Road 20.5. Basically, it covers central and southeast portions of Longmont.
80503 is west of Hover.
80504 covers everything east of Hover that isn't included in 80501.
80502 is for P.O. boxes.
Postal Service spokesman David Rupert reminded me that ZIP codes are used "only for the sorting and distribution and delivery of mail. It's an internal code we use to get the mail where it belongs."
So, the Postal Service determines ZIP codes based on its needs.
"It's strictly delivery," Rupert said. "We don't put any thought into neighborhoods. But if it makes sense for us ... generally you will find that it will follow a generally defined boundary."
So, ZIP codes don't necessarily belong to a community, although they are tied to certain communities (see below). For instance, 80504 includes much of eastern Longmont, as well as parts of the Carbon Valley.
A ZIP code maxes out at a certain number of addresses, although Rupert did not have that number. However, the USPS infrequently makes changes to boundaries. "Redrawing causes too much havoc," he said.
It's clear to me that Rupert has taken many inquiries about ZIP codes, because he was ready with his ZIP code trivia.
In the 1960s, Smoky Bear was receiving so many letters from kids, he had his own ZIP code.
The first digit designates a broad geographical area of the United States, ranging from zero for the Northeast to nine for the far West. The next two digits specify population concentrations within those areas. The last two digits designate small post offices or postal zones in larger zoned cities.
The primary city in an area usually gets the "01" at the end of its ZIP code. Then, numbers often are assigned to surrounding communities alphabetically. So, Frederick is assigned 80530; Lyons, 80540; Mead, 80542; and Niwot, 80544.
Some interesting ZIP codes: 22222 is Arlington, Va.; 44444 is Newton Falls, Ohio; 55555 is Young America, Minn.; and 12345 is Schenectady, N.Y.
I found that the highest ZIP Code, 99950, is for Ketchikan, Alaska.
Send questions to johnnie@times-call.com.