Due to population growth in the area, the U.S. Postal Service made a big announcement for the city of Bend on Monday afternoon: A new ZIP code is coming to town.

Effective July 1, the new ZIP code is 97703. Several ZIP codes serve the city and immediate surrounding areas: 97701, 97702, and 97708 and 97709 for some P.O. boxes. The new ZIP code will affect some addresses in the current 97701 area.

Postal customers with a changing ZIP code began receiving notification Monday. If customers do not receive written notifications of the change within the next week, their ZIP codes are not changing.

The new ZIP code divides the 97701 code in half at U.S. Highway 97. West of U.S. Highway 97 will become 97703, while east of Highway 97 will remain 97701.

According to a release from the Postal Service, the new ZIP code is a result of the increase in mail deliveries brought by the area’s population growth.

“As in most cases, with this ZIP code change, it involves growth,” said Peter Hass, a USPS spokesman. “ZIP codes do kind of have a capacity.”

But, he explained, it’s not a “finite number.” It depends on the area, but the U.S. Postal Service tries to be proactive in designating new ZIP codes when an area has grown and is continuing to grow. And the new ZIP code doesn’t necessarily mean added jobs.

“We try to get ahead of the curve so it’s not at capacity,” said Hass. “It’s kind of doing a forecast, to a degree.”

The Postal Service encourages customers in the affected area to use their new ZIP code and notify family, friends, clients and associates beginning July 1. Mail with either ZIP code will be delivered for one year after the change.

Customers in the area of the new ZIP code should also use it when reordering stationery or business cards.

But, according to USPS, other than using the new ZIP code and letting acquaintances know, postal customers don’t have many other responsibilities. Magazine publishers, financial institutions and insurance and utility companies typically use computerized mailing lists that update ZIP codes regularly, USPS said in the release.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325, kfisicaro@bendbulletin.com