Historical ZIP Code Database - Track changes over time

Historical ZIP Code Database

Access 20+ Years of Historical Publications for Research, Compliance & Trend Analysis

250+ Months
94 Data Fields
$2.80 Per Month Avg
Since October 2004
30-Day Guarantee
250+
Monthly Publications
Every month from Oct 2004
Oct 2004-Present
Historical Coverage
20+ years of data
$2.80/Month
Average Cost
Complete Archive option
99.9%
Data Accuracy
Same USPS quality

Choose Your Historical Access

One-time purchase options for historical ZIP Code data from October 2004 to July 2025

Single Month

$139.95

Best for: Specific compliance needs, one-time research projects

  • Pick ANY month from Oct 2004 to July 2025
  • 94 data fields, 5 supplemental files
  • All formats: CSV, Excel, Access, SQL
  • One-time purchase, no recurring fees

Redistribution

$1,599.95

Best for: Data resellers, SaaS applications, consulting firms

  • Complete Archive + redistribution rights
  • Package with your products
  • Distribute to clients and end users
  • One-time fee, perpetual rights

Quick Comparison

Feature Single Month Complete Archive Redistribution
Months Included 1 (your choice) 250+ (all available) 250+ (all available)
Data Fields 94 fields 94 fields 94 fields
Supplemental Files 5 files 5 files 5 files
Price $139.95 $699.95 ($2.80/month avg) $1,599.95
Best For Specific date validation Research & trend analysis Resale to clients
Redistribution Rights ? ? ?

Why Choose Historical Data?

Three compelling reasons to access point-in-time ZIP Code data

Validate Legacy Addresses

Match addresses to ZIP codes as they existed at a specific point in time. Perfect for cleaning up old customer databases, verifying historical records, or validating addresses from legacy systems that predate recent ZIP Code changes.

Track Demographic Trends

Analyze how populations, household incomes, and demographics evolved across 20+ years. Observe Census data transitions from 2000 ? 2010 ? 2020 and understand how communities changed over time for market research and planning.

Meet Compliance Requirements

Audits and compliance often require data "as it existed on [specific date]". Our historical publications provide point-in-time accuracy you can document and verify, essential for regulatory compliance and legal requirements.

Same Quality Standards: Historical data uses the same USPS-licensed sources as our current database. Each publication contains data exactly as it existed at that point in time. Learn about our quality process ?

Explore a Live Sample with our Data Explorer


Understanding the Structure: Historical publications use the same comprehensive field structure shown here. Each monthly publication from October 2004 to July 2025 contains 94+ data fields with demographic, geographic, and statistical information as it existed at that point in time. Select a state to see sample records, then drill down to a county for detailed exploration.
Viewing: Business Version (Same as Historical)

Loading Historical Data Structure

Connecting to our live database to show you the comprehensive field structure available in all historical publications from October 2004 to July 2025.

What You'll See:

  • 94+ data fields per ZIP code
  • Census data (varies by era)
  • Geographic coordinates
  • Statistical classifications
  • Demographic information

Historical Context:

  • Same structure across all months
  • Data reflects point-in-time values
  • Census eras: 2000, 2010, 2020
  • Filter by state and county
  • Explore before you purchase
Remember: This shows current data structure. Your historical purchase will contain the same fields with values as they existed in your selected month(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about our Historical ZIP Code Database

The only difference is the time frame. Historical publications contain the exact same data structure as our current Business edition database-just frozen at a specific point in time.

Current Database:

  • Latest data, updated monthly on the 1st
  • Annual subscription with 12 monthly updates
  • Best for ongoing business operations
  • Three editions: Standard, Deluxe, Business

Historical Database:

  • Point-in-time data from October 2004 to July 2025
  • One-time purchase, no updates
  • Best for research, compliance, validation
  • Business edition structure only

Both use the same USPS-licensed sources and maintain 99.9% accuracy.

October 2004 is our earliest available historical publication.

We've been archiving monthly publications since we began offering the Business edition ZIP Code Database. This gives you:

  • 20+ years of historical coverage
  • 250+ monthly publications available
  • Complete data through July 2025
  • Monthly granularity for precise point-in-time analysis

Historical data lags 3-6 months behind our current database to ensure customers use the appropriate product for their needs.

Historical data maintains a 3-6 month lag to ensure customers select the right product for their needs.

The reasoning:

  • Historical is designed for past research and compliance, not recent data needs
  • Current database is better suited for ongoing business operations requiring fresh data
  • This helps customers choose the appropriate solution and pricing model

Which should you choose?

  • Need data from the last few months? Use our current database with monthly updates
  • Need data from a specific past date? Historical is perfect
  • Analyzing trends over years? Complete Historical Archive is ideal

Still unsure? Contact us and we'll help you choose.

It depends on your specific needs:

Single Month ($139.95) is best if:

  • You need data from a specific date for compliance or audit purposes
  • You're validating addresses that existed on a particular date
  • You have a one-time research project with a clear target date
  • Your budget is limited to a single month

Complete Archive ($699.95) is best if:

  • You're analyzing trends across multiple years
  • You're not sure which specific month you'll need
  • You'll reference historical data frequently
  • You want the best value (only $2.80 per month average)

Not sure? Complete Archive offers the best value and flexibility. At $2.80 per month average, you get instant access to any date you need without worrying about picking the wrong month.

Contact us if you'd like help deciding.

Yes, we can work with you on upgrading. Contact us at 1-800-425-1169 or info@zip-codes.com to discuss upgrade options.

While upgrades aren't automated through our website, we're happy to help customers who realize they need broader historical access after purchasing a single month.

Pro tip: If you're uncertain about your needs, Complete Archive at $699.95 offers the best value and eliminates the need to upgrade later.

Historical publications are available in the same formats as our current database:

  • CSV (Comma-Separated Values): Universal compatibility, works with any application
  • Microsoft Excel (.XLS): Ready for immediate use in Excel
  • Microsoft Access (.MDB): Database format for Access users
  • SQL Files: Ready-to-import for MySQL and SQL Server with table creation scripts (available from approximately 2018 forward)

All formats contain identical data-choose whichever works best for your workflow. Most customers prefer CSV for its universal compatibility.

All files include the same 94 data fields and 5 supplemental files as our current Business edition.

Census data in historical publications reflects what was current at that time. Field names remain consistent, but the source Census era evolves:

Census 2000 Era (Early years ~2004-2010):

  • Publications from this period contain Census 2000 demographic data
  • Represents the best available data at that time

Census 2010 Era (Mid years ~2010-2023):

  • Publications from this period contain Census 2010 data
  • Data was updated as quickly as possible after Census 2010 release

Census 2020 Era (Recent years 2023+):

  • Publications from June 2023 forward contain Census 2020 data
  • Most current demographic information

This transition is natural and expected-each historical publication contains the best available Census data at that point in time, giving you an accurate picture of how demographics were understood then.

No-historical publications are point-in-time data and do not receive updates.

This is by design. Historical data represents exactly what existed at a specific moment, which is essential for:

  • Compliance and audit requirements
  • Validating addresses as they existed on a specific date
  • Research requiring consistent historical reference points
  • Legal documentation requiring "as of [date]" accuracy

Your purchase includes:

  • One-time purchase with perpetual access
  • No recurring fees or subscription
  • Data remains available for download from your account

Need ongoing updates? Consider our current database with monthly updates and annual subscription.

Yes! This is one of the primary use cases for historical data.

Perfect for:

  • Cleaning up legacy customer databases with old addresses
  • Verifying addresses from historical records or documents
  • Validating that an address/ZIP combination was correct at a specific point in time
  • Compliance requirements needing historical address validation

How it works:

Match your old addresses against the ZIP Code data from the month/year those addresses were created. This tells you whether the address was valid at that time, even if ZIP codes have since changed.

Example use case: You have customer records from 2010 with addresses that no longer validate against current ZIP codes. Using our October 2010 historical publication, you can verify those addresses were correct when created.

For ongoing address validation needs, consider our ZIP Code API for real-time validation.

While we don't offer specific historical month samples, you can explore the data structure in several ways:

1. Use our Data Explorer above:

Shows current data structure with all 94 fields. Historical publications use identical structure with point-in-time values.

2. Download our Business sample file:

Download Business Edition Sample

Historical data uses the same structure as our Business edition

3. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee:

Every purchase is backed by our unconditional guarantee. If the historical data doesn't meet your needs, contact us within 30 days for a full refund.

Questions about the data? Contact us at 1-800-425-1169 and we'll help you determine if historical data is right for your project.

Still Have Questions?

Contact our team for personalized assistance.

Email: info@zip-codes.com | Phone: 1-800-425-1169

Sources & References


Historical publications contain data as it existed at the time of release. Sources include the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau (Census 2000, 2010, and 2020 data by era), U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other trusted federal agencies. Each monthly publication represents the exact data we provided to customers at that point in time, ensuring historical accuracy for research, compliance, and validation purposes.

  1. U.S. Postal Service [Historical Publications: 10/2004-July 2025], https://www.usps.com
  2. ZIP-Codes.com Proprietary Data Enhancements [Historical Archive], https://www.zip-codes.com
  3. U.S. Census Bureau [Multiple Eras], https://www.census.gov
    • Census 2000 [Decennial] - Used in early publications (~2004-2010)
    • Census 2010 [Decennial] - Used in mid-period publications (~2010-2023)
    • Census 2020 Demographic & Housing Characteristics (DHC) [Decennial] - Used in recent publications (2023+)
    • American Community Survey (ACS) [Annual] - Various years as released
    • U.S. Census Business Patterns (CBD) [Annual] - Various years as released
    • American National Standards Institute (ANSI) [As Released]
    • Office of Management and Budget (OMB) [As Released]
  4. U.S. Geological Survey [As Released], https://www.usgs.gov
  5. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [Annual], https://www.cms.gov
  6. National Center for Education Statistics [As Released], https://nces.ed.gov
Portions of data are provided by the United States Postal Service and are © 2004-2025. Zip-Codes.com is a non-exclusive licensee of the United States Postal Service.