Most Americans know their ZIP code by heart. They type it into online forms, scribble it on envelopes and memorize it as part ...

On July 1, 1963, the U.S. Post Office Department introduced the ZIP code program to get a handle on the heaping surplus of mail. Today, those five digits represent much more for American society. Back ...

It's very easy to chalk up certain facets of our lives to just being "the way it's always been." From daylight savings time to time zones, most of us don't even give a second thought to the meaning ...

The humble ZIP Code shows up in all kinds of surprising places. Planet Money looks at how it was born, how it transformed the mail and talks to one researcher who argues that it's gone too far. The ...

The House passed two bills Monday night that would authorize the U.S. Postal Service to create 76 new ZIP codes for communities nationwide. This is not the first proposed ZIP code upgrade. In December ...

Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Red Venture's senior editor of content partnerships. Fox Money is a personal finance hub featuring content generated by Credible Operations, Inc.

The holidays were busy for mail carriers because we were busy sending packages with a familiar five-digit code. Our Planet Money team got curious, where did ZIP codes come from? Here's reporter Sally ...