by Town Historian Al Dumas
On Monday, July 1st, 1963, the United States Post Office officially introduced the Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) code. The goal was that the new ZIP code system would result in more organized and speedy mail delivery. In our area, the ZIP code prefix assigned was 127, with Monticello being named the General Post Office (GPO), giving it the 12701 ZIP code.
The 127 area was to cover all of Sullivan County, and Western Orange County with the Town Of Deerpark and the City Of Port Jervis (Port Jervis was designated as 12771). The post offices operating within the Town Of Thompson are as follows:
· Monticello 12701
· Glen Wild 12738
· Harris 12742
· Kiamesha Lake 12751 (which was influenced by The Concord Hotel)
· Mongaup Valley 12762 (this locale was in the Town of Thompson and in the Town of Bethel)
· Rock Hill 12775
· Thompsonville 12784
Notice the alphabetical order corresponds with ascending numbers, with the exception of the GPO. The miracle of the ZIP code system that followed helped streamline mail delivery. Prior to the ZIP code being implemented, the system relied on postal zones and then “rural routes” for areas outside the postal zone areas – it was confusing. The ZIP code system is much more logical and organized.
A hearty salute to the 60th Anniversary of the ZIP code!