Carmel-by-the-Sea Introduces Street Addresses After a Century of P.O. Boxes

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, a coastal community of roughly 3,000 residents, received official street addresses for the first time last month. The shift ends a long-standing practice in which homes were identified only by landmarks and residents relied on free downtown post-office boxes for mail collection.

New York Times

Incorporated in 1916, Carmel cultivated a bohemian reputation that prized eccentricity over conventional municipal norms. During the 1920s, mayoral candidate Perry Newberry ran on a platform to “Keep Carmel Off the Map,” a slogan reflected in historic preservation documents.

New York Times

City officials explained that the adoption of numeric addresses was driven by practical concerns. They cited the need for emergency services to locate doors quickly, an aging population increasingly dependent on home deliveries of prescriptions and packages, and the logistical challenges posed by modern delivery companies. The change was presented as a response to “repeated tries and lengthy debates” among local leaders and residents.

New York Times

• “I don’t like to see these traditions and uniqueness dissipate,” — Frankie Laney, a longtime resident

New York Times

The new addressing system marks a significant departure from Carmel’s historic self-identification, balancing preservation of its unique charm with the demands of contemporary safety and convenience.

New York Times