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I was just wondering what the most up-to-date source for US Zip Code boundaries would be. My first thought was TIGER, whenever that comes out, but then I thought that the Postal Service might be a better bet. Does anyone have some input?

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7 Answers 7

up vote 22 down vote accepted

One thing to keep in mind is the fact that Zip Codes are not polygons, and therefore do not have boundaries. Zip Codes are lines (delivery routes) or points (Post Offices). See the Census Bureau website for a brief explanation. Also, the paper Zip Codes are Not Polygons gives a good overview of the situation.
The papers original link is dead, but the wayback machine has it.

All that being said, when I need to use Zip Codes, first place I look is at the ESRI data that used to come on CDs with ArcView/GIS, but is now available online at: Esri Data & Maps

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Maponics provides ZIP Code Boundaries and updates them each quarter with data directly from the USPS (and in fact, we are the only ZIP Code data provider that the USPS refers its customer to). While it is true that the data from the USPS is not in the form of geographic boundaries, we use numerous methods and algorithms to create boundaries from carrier routes and other data. The results are the most current available and can be purchased or licensed (with quarterly updates included) in a variety of GIS formats.

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Historicaly USPS data was polygonized from carrier routes in tele atlas database, spun off as Maponics, The data was used by the USPS itself as the TeleAtlas data was more in depth and complete than the post office due to the scope of resources available to a commercial entity. –  lewis Jan 4 '13 at 12:47

A five-digit ZIP code covers an arbitrary collection of delivery points (addresses). The USPS is the sole determiner of what ZIP code is assigned to what address, so they are the best source of current and correct data, which changes monthly. Cheap sources of current data are vendors like Semaphore Corporation.

Addresses within a ZIP code are assigned to numbered delivery routes. Addresses along the route are visited in a specific order, however there is no guarantee what path is taken by the mail carrier between two points along the route, so attempts at plotting routes as lines (or plotting all routes in a ZIP as a collection of lines) can't always be accurate.

Because ZIP codes are collections of points, the concept of "boundary" is ambiguous. It might mean computing the minimum rectangular bounding box enclosing all the addresses in a ZIP, or using a Graham scan to compute a "tighter" polygon, or using Lloyd's algorithm to polygonize a map, but how to choose the "best" boundary isn't always clear as shown in these 3 different boundaries for 5 points.

Since all addresses for a ZIP will be served by a single post office, it's tempting to start with that office's city boundary as the encompassing border for all ZIP codes served by that office, but exceptions occur: for example, a post office will serve ZIP codes outside the city, such as in unincorporated towns. Small towns often don't have street delivery; everything for a ZIP code might go to post office boxes at one location. And just over 100 "unique" ZIP codes are reserved for schools and businesses at a single location.

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As Don points out, the US Postal Service makes available their detailed delivery routes with zip code, carrier route and zip+4 detail for every truck route. The USPS web site lists this data as their Zip+4 Product and it is available for yearly license. Conversion of this address-by-address detail into ZIP code (and Carrier Route) polygons is a somewhat sophisticated GIS problem, but with accurate geocoding, the polygon boundary definitions become visually obvious and algorithmically derivable. Other GIS competitors, like US DataMart also provide the current USPS ZIP code polygons for free viewing or for paid download at much more reasonable rates.

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The USPS EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) application displays our most recent ZIP code boundaries.

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Is it possible for an EDDM user to download/import polygon zip code boundaries into traditional GIS software? Or is there another (licensing) option for using the ZIP code boundaries within GIS software? –  RyanDalton Sep 3 '14 at 18:28
Sadly, it does not. –  Maksim Sep 3 '14 at 18:31

Few sites give neighborhood zip codes like this site. Most just give the standard Census City and Communities.


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US Zipcode Boundaries API: https://www.mashape.com/vanitysoft/boundaries-io


for example: Washington,DC with all Zipcodes in boundaries

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