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MySQL ZipCode Radius Search

Today, boys and girls we’ll be talking about how to do a Zip Code Radius Search in MySQL; how to set it up, and how to use it.This has been tested in MySQL 5.1+, so please do not try it in anything lower than this, because it probably will not work.Now, you may ask… ‘Why do I need a ZipCode Radius Search?’, even though I do not know the answer to your question, I do know why I needed it.  Simply put as a store locator service for a client.  Since there are a few ways to do this, I will only be showing you how I did it (as I found and tested other methods, this method seemed to be the most accurate while being the most efficient in terms of query speed).First things first, you will need a table to store all 81k+ records from the latest zipcode dump.  We will be using a MyIASM storage system so we can take full advantage of the Spatial Indexing features MySQL has graciously included, but more on that as we go, for now, here is what I did:

Table: zip_codes

/* Create our table with these basic columns */
CREATE TABLE `zip_codes` (
 `zip` varchar(10) NOT NULL,
 `lat` float NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
 `lon` float NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
 `city` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 `state` char(2) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 `county` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 `type` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 `Location` point NULL,
 KEY `city` (`city`,`state`),
 KEY `lat` (`lat`),
 KEY `lon` (`lon`),
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;

We are using a NULL POINT column temporarily, so we can do our ZipCode data load, once this load is completed, run the following statement against the table to update the Location column:
`UPDATE zip_codes SET Location = POINT(lat, lon);`This will get our Geographical POINT data set and ready to create our Spatial Index, now you can change this column back to NOT NULL, and create the Spatial Index on it.Now, I use procedures for every CRUD operation I need, but for this exercise, I’ll just give you the direct query:

Query:

	SET @lat = 41.92;
	SET @lon = -72.65;
	SET @kmRange = 80.4672; -- = 50 Miles	SELECT *, (3956 * 2 * ASIN(SQRT(POWER(SIN((@lat - abs(`lat`)) * pi()/180 / 2),2) + COS(@lat * pi()/180 ) * COS(abs(`lat`) * pi()/180) * POWER(SIN((lon - `lon`) * pi()/180 / 2), 2)))) as distance
	FROM `zip_codes`
	WHERE MBRContains(LineString(Point(@lat + @kmRange / 111.1, @lon + @kmRange / (111.1 / COS(RADIANS(@lat)))), Point(@lat - @kmRange / 111.1, @lon - @kmRange / (111.1 / COS(RADIANS(@lat))))), `Location`)
	Order By distance

You can see that I set the latitude and longitude along with the Kilometer radius.  Change these values to suit your needs.   This query returns me 854 records of towns/cities in a 50 mile radius from Bradley International Airport, in a matter of 142ms (your results may vary)That’s it folks!   Have fun and happy coding
~Kevin

Our Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 18th, 2025

Introduction

Western Mass Hosting (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects the privacy of all individuals and organizations that interact with our services. This Privacy Policy establishes our practices regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of personal information for visitors to our website and clients utilizing our managed hosting and WordPress services. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy in its entirety.

Scope and Applicability

This Privacy Policy governs our handling of information collected through our corporate website and in the course of providing managed hosting, WordPress maintenance, and development services. In accordance with global privacy regulations, we serve as a Data Controller for information related to our business operations and client relationships. When processing data on behalf of our clients through hosted services, we act as a Data Processor under applicable data protection laws.

Information We Collect

We collect various categories of information necessary to provide and improve our services. This includes personal contact and payment details provided during account registration, technical information such as IP addresses and device characteristics for security purposes, and records of communications through support channels. For clients utilizing our hosting services, we may process end-user data stored within client websites, though we do not control or monitor the collection practices of such data.

Purpose and Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information only when we have proper justification under applicable laws. The primary legal bases for our processing activities include the necessity to fulfill contractual obligations to our clients, our legitimate business interests in maintaining and improving our services, and in limited cases, explicit consent for specific marketing communications. We maintain detailed records of processing activities to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements.

Use of Collected Information

The information we collect serves multiple business purposes. Primarily, we use this data to deliver and maintain reliable hosting services, including server provisioning, performance monitoring, and technical support. We also utilize information for business operations such as billing, customer relationship management, and service improvement initiatives. Security represents another critical use case, where we analyze data to detect and prevent fraudulent activity or unauthorized access to our systems.

Data Sharing and Third-Party Disclosures

We engage with carefully selected third-party service providers to support our operations, including cloud infrastructure providers, payment processors, and customer support platforms. These relationships are governed by strict contractual agreements that mandate appropriate data protection measures. We may disclose information when legally required to comply with court orders, government requests, or to protect our legal rights and the security of our services.

International Data Transfers

As a global service provider, we may transfer and process data in various locations worldwide. When transferring personal data originating from the European Economic Area or other regulated jurisdictions, we implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses and rely on adequacy decisions where applicable. Our subprocessors, including AWS Lightsail, maintain robust compliance certifications to ensure the protection of transferred data.

Data Retention Practices

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Client account information is typically maintained for five years following service termination to comply with legal and financial reporting obligations. Backup data associated with hosting services is automatically purged after thirty days, as specified in our Terms of Service. For data processed on behalf of clients, retention periods are determined by the respective client’s policies and instructions.

Security Measures

We implement comprehensive technical and organizational security measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. Our security program includes network encryption protocols, regular vulnerability assessments, strict access controls, and employee training on data protection best practices. We maintain incident response procedures to address potential security breaches and will notify affected parties where required by law.

Individual Rights

Individuals whose personal data we process may exercise certain rights under applicable privacy laws. These rights may include requesting access to their information, seeking correction of inaccurate data, requesting deletion under specific circumstances, and objecting to particular processing activities. We have established procedures to handle such requests in accordance with legal requirements, typically responding within thirty days of receipt. Requests should be submitted to our designated Data Protection Officer through the contact information provided in this policy.

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Our website employs various technologies to enhance user experience and analyze site performance. Essential cookies are used for basic functionality and security purposes, while analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site. Marketing cookies are only deployed with explicit user consent. Visitors can manage cookie preferences through their browser settings or our cookie consent tool.

Policy Updates and Notifications

We periodically review and update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Material changes will be communicated to affected clients through email notifications at least thirty days prior to implementation. Continued use of our services following such notifications constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact our Data Protection Officer at info@westernmasshosting.com or by mail at:

Western Mass Hosting
22 Orlando. St.,
Feeding Hills, MA 01030.

We take all privacy-related inquiries seriously and will respond promptly to legitimate requests. For clients with specific data processing agreements, please reference your contract for any additional terms that may apply to our handling of your data.