ZIP CODES CHANGE SUNDAY.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The U.S. Postal Service is running out of ZIP codes in the Santa Clarita Valley as the population continues to explode, forcing it to change thousands of addresses this weekend.

Beginning Sunday, Canyon Country and Saugus residents will have new ZIP codes - making nine codes in the Valley. But don't throw away that stationery just yet because post offices throughout the country will recognize the old ZIP codes for another year.

``Essentially, this is a one-year notice,'' said Terri Bouffiou, Postal Service spokeswoman. ``Until July 2002, our equipment will recognize both ZIP codes ... The mail will still get to Santa Clarita and to the correct address.''

Two ZIP codes will be affected in Santa Clarita, including the ZIP code in Saugus. About 5,100 addresses will change from 91350 to 91390 in the area north of Copper Hill Drive as well as San Francisquito Canyon Road and addresses north of the 28600 block of Bouquet Canyon Road, including all of the Agua Dulce area.

About 11,000 address in Canyon Country will change from 91351 to 91387 in areas east of the Sierra Highway.

The change is the result of the large increase in population and the number of companies in the area, Bouffiou said. Eventually, the post office runs out of the four-digit numbers attached to the end of ZIP codes that each address is given.

Residents need to notify only family and friends, Bouffiou said. Most magazines, creditors and other businesses should automatically make the change.

It's unknown whether other ZIP codes in the Santa Clarita Valley will change any time soon, but addresses that receive new numbers this weekend won't have to worry for at least 20 years.

``We try to do this as few times as possible in a lifetime,'' Bouffiou said.