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==Structure and allocation==
ZIP Codes designate [[delivery point]]s within the United States (and its territories).
===Types===
ZIP Codes designate [[delivery point]]s within the United States (and its territories). There are generally no ZIP Codes for deliveries to other countries, except for the independent countries of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]], and the [[Republic of Palau]], each of which is integrated into the U.S. postal system under a [[Compact of Free Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-24 |title=Freely Associated States |url=https://www.doi.gov/ocl/freely-associated-states |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.doi.gov |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520215245/https://www.doi.gov/ocl/freely-associated-states |url-status=live }}</ref> Another exception is ZIP Codes used for overseas stations of U.S. armed forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28c2_010.htm|title=Military Addresses|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215222409/https://pe.usps.com/text/pub28/28c2_010.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
Mail to [[List of diplomatic missions of the United States|U.S. diplomatic missions]] overseas is addressed as if it were addressed to a street address in [[Washington, D.C.]] The four-digit [[diplomatic pouch]] number is used as a building number, while the city in which the embassy or consulate is located is combined with the word "Place" to form a fictional street name. Each mission uses a ZIP+4 Code consisting of '''20521''' and the diplomatic pouch number.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}▼
For example, the [[Embassy of the United States, New Delhi|U.S. Embassy in India]] has this address in India's postal system:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://in.usembassy.gov/ |title=U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128174246/https://in.usembassy.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>▼
<blockquote>▼
<poem>▼
Embassy of the United States of America▼
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri,▼
New Delhi,▼
National Capital Territory of Delhi, [[Postal Index Number|110021]]▼
</poem>▼
</blockquote>▼
<blockquote>▼
<poem>▼
Embassy of the United States of America▼
9000 New Delhi Place▼
Washington, DC{{nbsp}}{{nbsp}}20521-9000▼
</poem>▼
</blockquote>▼
Individuals posted at diplomatic missions overseas are now assigned a Diplomatic Post Office address and unique box number. The ZIP Code identifies the diplomatic mission destination and is different from the diplomatic pouch number in the example above. While delivered through the pouch system, mail to such addresses are not considered "Diplomatic Pouch" materials, and as such must adhere to the mailing regulations of the host country. An example address is:<ref>{{cite web |title=Military & Diplomatic Mail {{!}} USPS |url=https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm |website=www.usps.com |access-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819001108/https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm |archive-date=19 August 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>▼
<blockquote>▼
<poem>▼
JOHN ADAMS▼
UNIT 8400 BOX 0000▼
DPO AE{{nbsp}}{{nbsp}}09498-0048▼
</poem>▼
</blockquote>▼
There are four types of ZIP Codes:
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An example of a PO box-only ZIP Code is 22313, used for boxes at the main post office in [[Alexandria, Virginia]], including those used by the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]. In the area surrounding that post office, home and business mail delivery addresses use ZIP Code 22314, a standard ZIP Code.
===
====Primary state prefixes====
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Despite the geographic derivation of most ZIP Codes, the codes themselves do not represent geographic regions; in general, they correspond to address groups or delivery routes. As a consequence, ZIP Code "areas" can overlap, be subsets of each other, or be artificial constructs with no geographic area (such as 095 for mail to the Navy, which is not geographically fixed). In similar fashion, in areas without regular postal routes ([[Rural delivery service|rural route]] areas) or no mail delivery (undeveloped areas), ZIP Codes are not assigned or are based on sparse delivery routes, and hence the boundary between ZIP Code areas is undefined. For example, some residents in or near [[Haubstadt, Indiana]], which has the ZIP Code 47639, have mailing addresses with 47648, the ZIP Code for neighboring [[Fort Branch, Indiana]], while others living in or near Fort Branch have addresses with 47639. Many rural counties have similar logistical inconsistencies caused by the aforementioned sparse delivery routes, often known as Rural Routes or by some other similar designation.
====
▲
▲Mail to [[List of diplomatic missions of the United States|U.S. diplomatic missions]] overseas is addressed as if it were addressed to a street address in [[Washington, D.C.]] The four-digit [[diplomatic pouch]] number is used as a building number, while the city in which the embassy or consulate is located is combined with the word "Place" to form a fictional street name. Each mission uses a ZIP+4 Code consisting of '''20521''' and the diplomatic pouch number.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}
▲For example, the [[Embassy of the United States, New Delhi|U.S. Embassy in India]] has this address in India's postal system:<ref>{{cite web
▲<blockquote>
▲<poem>
▲Embassy of the United States of America
▲Shantipath, Chanakyapuri,
▲New Delhi,
▲National Capital Territory of Delhi, [[Postal Index Number|110021]]
▲</poem>
▲</blockquote>
as well as this U.S. address:<ref>{{cite web |title=Mail Management |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/a/c8028.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630191152/https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/a/c8028.htm |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |access-date=April 1, 2015 |publisher=Diplomatic Pouch and Mail Division of the U.S. Department of State}}</ref>
▲<blockquote>
▲<poem>
▲Embassy of the United States of America
▲9000 New Delhi Place
▲Washington, DC{{nbsp}}{{nbsp}}20521-9000
▲</poem>
▲</blockquote>
▲Individuals posted at diplomatic missions overseas are now assigned a Diplomatic Post Office address and unique box number. The ZIP Code identifies the diplomatic mission destination and is different from the diplomatic pouch number in the example above. While delivered through the pouch system, mail to such addresses are not considered "Diplomatic Pouch" materials, and as such must adhere to the mailing regulations of the host country. An example address is:<ref>{{cite web |title=Military & Diplomatic Mail {{!}} USPS |url=https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm |
▲<blockquote>
▲<poem>
▲JOHN ADAMS
▲UNIT 8400 BOX 0000
▲DPO AE{{nbsp}}{{nbsp}}09498-0048
▲</poem>
▲</blockquote>
=== Division and reallocation ===
Like [[Telephone numbering plan|area code]]s, ZIP Codes are sometimes divided and changed, especially when a [[rural]] area becomes [[suburb]]an. Typically, the new codes become effective once announced, and a grace period (e.g., one year) is provided in which the new and old codes are used concurrently so that postal patrons in the affected area can notify correspondents, order new stationery, etc.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Roberts |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/nyregion/21zip.html |title=An Elite ZIP Code Becomes Harder to Crack |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 21, 2007 |page=C15 |access-date=July 10, 2009 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126211652/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/nyregion/21zip.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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