The Hidden Journey inside ZIP Codes
Added 2025-01-29 00:44:58 +0000 UTC
Comments
Directors commentary forthcoming?
Sam Rigby
2025-02-07 02:09:24 +0000 UTCArguably, "Greater Atlantia" actually stretches further: all the way to the Arctic and Himalayas, as Army Post Offices (APOs) in the Armed Forces Europe (AE) system are used at Thule, Greenland (09704 at 71.8 N) and throughout US Central Command's AOR. Past Islamabad (09812), Armed Forces Pacific (AP) picks things up from the other side with 96XXX zip codes. Amundsen-Scott also has a Greater Pacifica zip code (96598) since it has a Fleet Post Office (FPO) address.
NDO
2025-02-04 15:18:50 +0000 UTCAlright that makes a lot more sense. Thanks.
Ryan Butler
2025-01-30 11:35:58 +0000 UTCThe first digit is just a general area, it doesn't correspond to an actual building/facility. There used to be 20 national-level distribution centers, NJ and MA each had one for their respective regions, and the 0s on the islands were handled by Jacksonville which otherwise dealt with 3s.
Michael M
2025-01-30 11:28:57 +0000 UTCAre we getting a behind the scenes for this?
Justin Cellini
2025-01-29 22:37:23 +0000 UTCH3C 5H7 for the Canadian postal code on the end card eh? Even a video that isn't about planes is secretly about planes with this guy smdh.
Kyle Siemens
2025-01-29 13:55:06 +0000 UTCIf I remember rightly from when the ZIP Code plan came out, the ZIP stood for Zone Improvement Plan. When television commercials came out educating the public about ZIP Codes, they described it thus: First digit, which tenth of the country; second & third digits, major distribution point; and fourth & fifth digits, individual post office. The latter had been previously identified with a "zone number." I went from living in "New York 24, NY" to "New York, NY 10024". I eventually learned that 00 was New York county AKA the Borough of Manhattan.
Mordecai Glicksman
2025-01-29 13:42:56 +0000 UTCIn the Netherlands, we just need the post code and the house number and it knows where we are
Stefen C
2025-01-29 13:26:03 +0000 UTCIrish guy here. Nice touch at 07:26, Grey :)
Artifexian
2025-01-29 09:51:56 +0000 UTC"Isn't this just the address again" ... sorry, but this irks me - the posit *really* shoulda been "isn't this just the town/state/country again" - cuz the zipcode arguably is just that, at least in the US. Meanwhile, the street address and number will likely always be necessary (unless GPS coordinates are adopted), while the entity is only important to the inhabitants of that number, assuming there's multiple. An address label with nothing but a street name & dwelling number + zipcode should successfully reach the recipient 99% of the time (in the US). (Edit2; unless it was a megacorp, in which case you'd likely need an extra line in either case, such as 'Attn: Accounting') Edit; still, you're the best Grey & Co - thank you for the content!!!
Dsurian
2025-01-29 07:39:00 +0000 UTCAnschel is probably right. But, it could also be that this is the only way government employees have to amuse themselves. "That'll keep 'em guessing," etc
Darren Pierce
2025-01-29 04:37:45 +0000 UTCIf I had to guess, it's probably because getting freight (which includes mail) across the river is surprisingly slow and difficult. Especially when the post office still mostly ran on rail, there's no freight rail link across the Hudson anywhere near NYC.
Anschel Schaffer-Cohen
2025-01-29 01:28:26 +0000 UTCOk now I want a completely random, arbitrary, anonymous zip code.
Darryl Gerrow
2025-01-29 01:11:14 +0000 UTCClassic CGP Grey!
Chloé Gray
2025-01-29 01:03:11 +0000 UTCSo but as a New Jersian… what? How can it be more efficient for Boston or wherever to sort our mail than the people on the on the other side of the river?
Ryan Butler
2025-01-29 00:49:49 +0000 UTCYay! Grey is back! We've missed you, and can't wait to see what big project you've been up to.
Ian
2025-01-29 00:47:34 +0000 UTC
