[Info-vax] OT: ZIP/Postal code geo-coordinates

[John Smith (not the one @ HP)]

"Michael Moroney" <moroney at world.std.spaamtrap.com> wrote in message 
news:gsj30e$pqo$1 at pcls6.std.com...
> "John Smith \(not the one @ HP\)" <a at nonymous.com> writes:
>
>>I need to be able to calculate/lookup distances from a specific postal/zip
>>code - eg. within 50 miles of 02138 or 100 km of T0K 0Y0, or equivalent
>>other nationa postal routing codes.
>
>>Just wondering if anyone can point me to a source of information that
>>provides presumed center point latitude/longitude for a given zip/postal
>>code in US/Canada/Western Europe as a starting point?
>
>>I've been poking around on various national postal service websites 
>>looking
>>for something like this but have not stumbled upon this informtion.
>
> I don't know where, but such a database must be readily available.  Almost
> any large business has a web page with a "find a store near me" page where
> they take a zip code and produce a list of stores with a distance from the
> center of the zip code.
>
> BTW is T0K 0Y0 a valid Canadian zip code? (the zip code for the largest
> city in Japan? :-) )  I know how H0H 0H0 is used around Christmastime.

It was valid at on point in time - someplace in Alberta. But it's no longer 
assigned.