Zip Code Outlines on Google Maps

September 27, 2005 2:58 PM

If you've ever wanted to know what portion of the US a specific zip code covers, this Google Maps hack is for you.
posted by jonson (11 comments total)

Not too precise. I prefer Ben Fry's java applet zipdecode.
posted by Gyan at 3:07 PM on September 27, 2005

Strange. It now shows a red outline, which is indeed more precise. My apologies.
posted by Gyan at 3:10 PM on September 27, 2005

This is neat, but my hometown's zipcode isn't on there. It's bundled into Slightlylesstinysville next door. I guess the note at the bottom explains it.

" Note: Zip code data is derived from the census "ZCTAs (ZIP Code Tabulation Areas)" which may be different than the USPS defined zip code delivery routes. A USPS zip code is not a geographical area but a route which may not be definable as a polygon. "

Some of these codes aren't even contiguous... weird.
posted by jaysus chris at 3:10 PM on September 27, 2005

I love these Google Maps hacks.
Very nice.
posted by caddis at 3:38 PM on September 27, 2005

A bit slow, and it zooms the map without asking, but still quite cool.
posted by zardoz at 3:50 PM on September 27, 2005

Didn't realize that if I lived across the street, I'd have a different zipcode. I must figure out how to use this knowledge for evil. Thanks, jonson!
posted by hackly_fracture at 4:50 PM on September 27, 2005

I was just on the user pages trying to figure out where the people near me live, but I couldn't really tell by the zip codes. So thanks! This is awesome.
posted by Kimberly at 5:04 PM on September 27, 2005

Hear that? That was the sound of entire class of marketing data companies going out of business.

Obscenely cool. Thanks!

One step closer to the holy grail ... being able to click on a map and have it tell you what's at/near that location (residences, businesses, whatever). Privacy concerns? Bah, that went out the window when you started being able to do reverse lookups of phone numbers.
posted by intermod at 7:36 PM on September 27, 2005

This is cool, thanks. I've been wondering about this for my city for a long time, and now the answers are at my fingertips.
posted by OmieWise at 7:03 AM on September 28, 2005

Cool idea, but Gyan, you were right the first time. I'm very familiar with the borders of my zip code, and this has it just plain wrong for at least half of the shape.
posted by soyjoy at 8:11 AM on September 28, 2005

It doesn't seem to work for PO Boxes. Not in my city, at least.
posted by TurkishGolds at 12:22 PM on September 29, 2005