4 ms·
I was excited to learn PO box numbers are unique in my city and have their own ZIP code so theoretically mail could reach me with an address of only "37939-0002
by Lucent 4y ago
I was excited to learn PO box numbers are unique in my city and have their own ZIP code so theoretically mail could reach me with an address of only "37939-0002" (ZIP only) or "PO Box 2, Knoxville" (no ZIP) if someone wants to test it out. I'll send something fun in reply.
- madcaptenor 4y agoNo state either? Would they know which state to route that to? I think yours is the largest but apparently there are a bunch of cities in the US with that name.
- LanceH 4y agoI suspect that would work for the Knoxville you are in, but not from one Knoxville to another.
- mrkstu 4y agoZIP is inclusive of state
- supermatt 4y agoBut (no ZIP) isn’t a ZIP
- simmonmt 4y agoZip codes are nation-scoped, not state-scoped, so yes they'd know which state.
- madcaptenor 4y agoWhat I meant is: if you address to just "Knoxville" how would they know it's the one in Tennessee?
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- polygotdomain 4y agoThe replies here are close, but not exactly right. Zip codes largely map to individual post offices. Once mail gets to the correct post office, then it will get sorted into routes for delivery. The reason why the distinction of post offices is important is that zip codes are not required to follow state boundaries (technically, zip codes aren't an area, but a list of delivery points). In fact, there are a lot more than you'd think that span across state lines, so there may actually be a mismatch between the state for your address and the state for the post office your mail is delivered by.