Crestwood Gets New ZIP Code -- 6-0-4-1-8

CRESTWOOD, IL -- Start ordering new address labels. Crestwood has a new number -- 6-0-4-1-8. After a four-year push for its own identity, Crestwood is finally getting its own ZIP Code.

Mayor Lou Presta said the village is waiting for more direction from the U.S. Postmaster General’s office, which must finish preparations for the new ZIP Code change. The mayor said the new digits will take effect July 1.

“I’ve waited 30 years for this,” Presta said. “We’re big enough we have our own identity.”

The village’s first attempt to get its own ZIP Code failed because it was poorly publicized. Presta said the U.S. Postal Service gave Crestwood a second chance. For the village to get its own digits, at least 51-percent of Crestwood’s 11,000 residents had to indicate they were in favor of the measure.

“The USPS did a mailing. People had to mail a card back indicating if they wanted it or not,” Presta said. “We went back and asked for a second chance. We felt that people were throwing stuff away or weren’t paying attention.”

Presta said a greater attempt was made at informing residents and over 51 percent of residents said they wanted their own ZIP Code.

“You can’t even get 5 percent to respond to something they get in the mail, let alone 51 percent,” the mayor said. “Congressman Bobby Rush was also instrumental.”

The new ZIP Code could mean lower car insurance rates for Crestwood residents, since the town will no longer be rolled into Midlothian’s postal district. Presta also said it would avoid Crestwood residents and business accidentally paying fees applied to Midlothian residents due to ZIP Code sharing, such as cable TV, Internet and cellular phone services.

“If the accidents are happening in Midlothian and not Crestwood, because of the ZIP Code sharing, our residents could be paying higher costs for insurance,” Presta said.

The mayor added that having a ZIP Code exclusive to Crestwood does not require the village to establish a physical post office building.