The Most Unique Zip Code in the U.S.
Sure, your zip code may be cool, but not like this.
Howdy! It’s Joey, back with more Fun Fact Friyay. Grab a buoy for this one because we’re getting a little wet.
J.W. Westcott II is the only floating zip code in the United States.
I’ve lived in several different zip codes throughout my life, and they’ve been literally all over the map. We’ve had a handful spread out across the 60000s, the 33000s, the 90000s, and the 78000s.
While each of those zip codes has plenty of interesting stuff going on, none of them float.
That’s probably because zip codes are typically entire cities and not boats. But the J.W. Westcott II is an exception.
The Westcott Company has been around since 1874, when its namesake, Captain John Westcott, delivered supplies to passing ships via a rowboat. In 1895, Westcott started adding mail to his delivery route.
The rowboat upgraded to a larger boat, and in 1948, J.W. Westcott II became a registered post office.
Using the zip code 48222, J.W. Westcott II delivers mail to passing ships on the Detroit River in Michigan, donning the charmingly rhyming motto of “mail by the pail.” When a passing freighter gets mail or a package, J.W. Westcott II typically puts the parcels in a bucket and uses a rope-pulley system to hand it off to the ship.
The boat unfortunately capsized in October 2001 while trying to make a delivery. The captain and another crewmate died as a result. That is very sad. Yet it didn’t spell the end of J.W. Westcott II — the vessel was recovered, repaired, and restored for service.
If you want to send a letter to one of the ships along the Detroit River, you can do it! Just use the format below:
Vessel Name,
Marine Post Office
Detroit, Michigan 48222
It’s optional to be floating (perhaps in a pool or the tub) while you’re addressing the letter. Of course, that might get everything too wet and/or smear your pen ink, so maybe stick to dry land.