Given coordinates, how do I get all the Zip Codes within a 10 mile radius?

Question

I have a location (latitude & longitude). How can I get a list of zipcodes that are either partially or fully within the 10 mile radius of my location?

The solution

Answer 1

Most searches work with centroids. In order to work with partial zipcodes being within the 10 miles, you are going to have to buy a database of zipcode polygons (*). Then implement an algorithm which checks for zipcodes with vertices within your 10 mile radius. To be done properly, you owuld use the Haversine formula for the distance measurement. With some clever data structures, you can significant reduce the search space. Similarly, searches can be greatly speeded up by storing and initially comparing against zipcoe extents (North,West,East,South).

(*) Note: Technically zipcodes are NOT polygons! I know we all think of them like that, but really they are collections of data points (street addresses) and this is how the USPS really uses them. This means zipcodes can include other zipcodes; zipcodes can be made of multiple "polygons"; and zipcodes can overlap other zipcodes. Most of these situations should not be a problem, but you will have to handle zipcodes that can be defined as multiple polygons.