La. community finally gets ZIP code

THIBODAUX, La. -- It's no 90210, but residents of a small, rural community in southern Louisiana are just happy to have any five-digit ZIP code.

For four decades, folks in Larose have had to go to neighboring towns' post offices to retrieve their mail. Beginning Saturday, the 7,000 or so who live in the town were able to start using 70373 and should soon receive letters, packages and fliers in their roadside mailboxes for the first time.

"This will make it easier. You don't have to worry about two addresses, it will be a Larose address," said Christine Hohensee, a resident for 43 years. "I like it. It's time. The older people probably aren't going to care for it, but times change."

Residents petitioned for years to bring a rural route to the area, but the switch wasn't made until a recent survey showed widespread support, said Daisy Comeaux, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service.