Snerk.

Google in 1960: [link]

Heh.

Although to be hyper-anal, I don't think zip-codes were used in 1960....

Always ahead of the curve, those Google dudes.

First implemented in 1963.

According to a site I found by using Google.

First implemented in 1963.

Huh. I did a very brief google but couldn't find anything. I had thought it was around 1970. But looking at the site:

In 1967, these were made mandatory for second- and third-class bulk mailers, and the system was soon adopted generally.

So I was probably thinking about the general implementation. I have vague memories as a child of the Postal Service having an ad campaign to convince people to use Zip codes - this would have been in the early '70s.

In recent years I remember noticing old ads for companies that had an address but no zip code - I think the latest I've seen this is '72?

Anyway, pro'lly no one else cares, but I find the widespread efforts made to get people to use Zip codes somewhat interesting - they had to change the habbits of most people in the US.

Born in 1963 - never didn't use a zipcode. But the zipcode of my childhood house, no longer exsists.

I remember having to use zone codes when mailing to biggish cities.

Also, when did they start requiring everyone to use two-letter state abbreviations? Some states used to have three-letter codes, like 'FLA' for Florida.

Holly came from Miami FLA
Hitchhiked her way across the USA
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

See, the first rhyme wouldn't work with the 'FL' abbreviation....

I remember having to memorize the 2-letter codes in 7th grade, which would have been 1974-75.

Also spent a lot of time learning the metric system in math class that year, because we were expecting to switch over in the near future. But that's another matter.

Some states used to have three-letter codes, like 'FLA' for Florida.

Some even had four letters, like Tenn. for Tennessee. It was a different, more verbose time.