Famous ZIP Codes in the United States: What a ZIP Code Is and Why It Exists

What Is a ZIP Code?

A ZIP Code is a postal code used in the United States to identify specific geographic delivery areas. The term ZIP stands for Zone Improvement Plan, a system introduced by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 1963 to improve the speed and accuracy of mail delivery.

A standard ZIP Code contains five digits:

• The first digit represents a group of U.S. states or a large region.
• The next two digits identify a sectional center facility (a mail sorting hub).
• The last two digits represent a local delivery area.

Later, the ZIP+4 system was introduced to provide even more precise delivery locations, such as specific buildings or city blocks.

Why ZIP Codes Were Created

Before ZIP Codes, mail sorting was largely manual and time-consuming. As the U.S. population and mail volume grew—especially after World War II—the postal system needed a way to automate and standardize delivery routes.

ZIP Codes were created to:

• Speed up mail processing
• Reduce delivery errors
• Enable automated sorting
• Improve logistics planning

Today, ZIP Codes are used for far more than mail delivery. Businesses use them for:

Market research and demographic analysis

• Targeted marketing and advertising
• Territory planning and logistics
• Insurance and risk modeling
• Real estate analysis

Because ZIP Codes are tied to geography and population patterns, they have become one of the most widely used geographic identifiers in the United States.

The Most Famous ZIP Codes in Each U.S. State

Below is a curated list of well-known ZIP Codes in each state and why they are notable. Fame may come from tourism, economic importance, pop culture, or historical significance.

Alabama — 35203 (Birmingham)

Downtown Birmingham’s historic business district and civil rights landmarks are located in this ZIP Code.

Alaska — 99501 (Anchorage)

Covers downtown Anchorage, the economic and transportation hub of Alaska.

Arizona — 85001 (Phoenix)

One of the most recognized ZIP Codes in Arizona, covering the state capital’s downtown core.

Arkansas — 72201 (Little Rock)

Home to downtown Little Rock and major government buildings.

California — 90210 (Beverly Hills)

Arguably the most famous ZIP Code in the world, associated with wealth, celebrity culture, and the television series Beverly Hills, 90210.

Colorado — 80202 (Denver)

Known for downtown Denver’s business district and major sports venues.

Connecticut — 06830 (Greenwich)

A nationally recognized area known for affluence and hedge fund headquarters.

Delaware — 19801 (Wilmington)

A major financial and corporate center.

Florida — 33109 (Miami Beach / Fisher Island)

One of the wealthiest ZIP Codes in the United States and known for luxury real estate.

Georgia — 30303 (Atlanta)

Downtown Atlanta and the city’s historic commercial center.

Hawaii — 96815 (Waikiki)

Globally recognized tourist destination and beachfront district.

Idaho — 83702 (Boise)

Downtown Boise and the state capitol area.

Illinois — 60611 (Chicago)

Home to the Magnificent Mile and luxury retail districts.

Indiana — 46204 (Indianapolis)

Includes Monument Circle and major sports venues.

Iowa — 50309 (Des Moines)

Downtown Des Moines and government offices.

Kansas — 66101 (Kansas City, KS)

Historic downtown and industrial areas near major rail routes.

Kentucky — 40202 (Louisville)

Downtown Louisville and waterfront redevelopment districts.

Louisiana — 70116 (New Orleans)

Covers the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, famous worldwide.

Maine — 04101 (Portland)

Historic waterfront and tourism center.

Maryland — 20814 (Bethesda)

Known for healthcare institutions and proximity to Washington, D.C.

Massachusetts — 02108 (Boston)

Beacon Hill, one of the oldest and most historic neighborhoods in the U.S.

Michigan — 48226 (Detroit)

Downtown Detroit and historic financial district.

Minnesota — 55401 (Minneapolis)

Central business district and sports venues.

Mississippi — 39201 (Jackson)

Downtown Jackson and government buildings.

Missouri — 63102 (St. Louis)

Gateway Arch and historic riverfront.

Montana — 59715 (Bozeman)

Popular for tourism and outdoor recreation near Yellowstone.

Nebraska — 68102 (Omaha)

Old Market district and downtown Omaha.

Nevada — 89109 (Las Vegas)

The Las Vegas Strip, one of the most visited destinations in the world.

New Hampshire — 03801 (Portsmouth)

Historic coastal city known for tourism.

New Jersey — 07097 (Jersey City)

Major financial district with Manhattan skyline views.

New Mexico — 87501 (Santa Fe)

Historic downtown known for art and architecture.

New York — 10001 (New York City)

The first ZIP Code ever assigned and located in Manhattan.

North Carolina — 28202 (Charlotte)

Major banking and financial hub.

North Dakota — 58102 (Fargo)

Historic downtown Fargo and university areas.

Ohio — 44114 (Cleveland)

Downtown Cleveland near major cultural attractions.

Oklahoma — 73102 (Oklahoma City)

Bricktown and downtown entertainment districts.

Oregon — 97209 (Portland)

Pearl District, known for redevelopment and culture.

Pennsylvania — 19103 (Philadelphia)

Rittenhouse Square and upscale urban living.

Rhode Island — 02903 (Providence)

Downtown Providence and historic districts.

South Carolina — 29401 (Charleston)

Historic architecture and tourism.

South Dakota — 57701 (Rapid City)

Gateway to Mount Rushmore.

Tennessee — 37203 (Nashville)

Music Row and entertainment districts.

Texas — 77002 (Houston)

Downtown Houston and the energy industry.

Utah — 84101 (Salt Lake City)

Downtown and Temple Square area.

Vermont — 05401 (Burlington)

Lakefront and university area.

Virginia — 22314 (Alexandria)

Old Town Alexandria and historic waterfront.

Washington — 98101 (Seattle)

Retail core and tourism center.

West Virginia — 25301 (Charleston)

State government and business district.

Wisconsin — 53202 (Milwaukee)

Lakefront, entertainment, and business districts.

Wyoming — 82001 (Cheyenne)

State capital and historic railroad hub.

How Businesses Use ZIP Codes Today

ZIP Codes have evolved into a critical tool for:

• Location intelligence
• Customer segmentation
• Territory planning
• Delivery optimization
• Demographic analysis

For marketers and data professionals, ZIP Codes provide a powerful way to understand geographic patterns in income, population, and consumer behavior.

For example, let's compare AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) returns between these zip codes and find out how each is performing. Below is a code excerpt, you can download the full Python code from our Github Repository. The full code does the following:

• Uses a list of the most famous zip codes in this blog article.
• Leverages the end point /zipc/v1/zipcodes/{zipcode}/soi?year=2022 to get return statistics for each zip code.
• Aggregates the data by zip code and sorts the result in descending order.
• Plots a bar graph with each zip code sorted from top income to lowest income in the list.

def get_agi_total_single_year(zipcode, year):
    url = f"{BASE_URL}/{zipcode}/soi?year={year}"
    response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

    if response.status_code != 200:
        print(f"Error for {zipcode}: {response.status_code}")
        return None

    data = response.json().get("data", [])
    df = pd.DataFrame(data)

    if df.empty:
        return None

    # Ensure numeric
    df["agiGroupId"] = pd.to_numeric(df["agiGroupId"], errors="coerce")
    df["adjustedGrossIncome"] = pd.to_numeric(df["adjustedGrossIncome"], errors="coerce")

    # Filter AGI groups 1–6
    df = df[df["agiGroupId"].between(1, 6)]

    total_agi = df["adjustedGrossIncome"].sum()

    return total_agi

When running this python code you should get the following graph:

Get the full Python code

Conclusion

ZIP Codes began as a way to make mail delivery faster and more reliable, but they have become an essential part of modern business, logistics, and data analysis. Some ZIP Codes have achieved nationwide recognition due to wealth, tourism, history, or pop culture—making them part of the broader cultural landscape of the United States. Leverage our zip code API to uncover key data to help you manage your business decisions.