A system and method that establishes a network node containing public and private information related to a plurality of geographic zones or ZIP Codes; receives a request from a user to access the node (1004); enables the user to view the information related to a zone; receives a user selection of private or public informaton (1008). If private information is selected, determines whether the user is a resident of a geographic area corresponding to the zone (1016); and modifies the user information contained in the node for the zone in response to a user request, it is determined that the user resides in the geographic area corresponding to the zone. If the public information is selected (1010), in response to the user's request, searches the public information (1012) and providing the user with general information relevant to the zone (1012).