Q 01/05

Two-letter state abbreviations arrived in 1963 to free up address-line space for which new postal feature?

A) ZIP Codes

B) Barcodes

C) Airmail stamps

D) Postage meters

Answer · why

A) ZIP Codes

ZIP Codes arrived on July 1, 1963, when most addressing machines could fit only 23 characters on the bottom line of an address. Shorter state names ma...

Q 02/05

Which state swapped its postal code NB for a new one in 1969 to avoid confusion with New Brunswick?

A) Nevada

B) Nebraska

C) North Dakota

D) New Mexico

Answer · why

B) Nebraska

Nebraska became NE because postal officials north of the border asked for NB to be left to their own province. It remains the only change made to a st...

Q 03/05

MO is the two-letter postal code of which state, home to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis?

A) Montana

B) Mississippi

C) Missouri

D) Minnesota

Answer · why

C) Missouri

Missouri borders eight different states, a figure equaled only by its neighbor Tennessee. Its abbreviation has barely moved in two centuries: the Post...

Q 04/05

MI is the two-letter postal code of which state, made up of two peninsulas bordering four Great Lakes?

A) Michigan

B) Mississippi

C) Minnesota

D) Massachusetts

Answer · why

A) Michigan

Michigan was given MI in October 1963, four months after a first Post Office list had tried MICH. Its two halves are split by the Straits of Mackinac.

Q 05/05

AK is the two-letter postal code of which state, whose most populous city is Anchorage?

A) Arkansas

B) Alabama

C) Alaska

D) Arizona

Answer · why

C) Alaska

Alaska first appeared as ALSK on the Post Office's June 1963 list, then took AK that October. The more obvious AL went to Alabama.