zip_import.py

# See http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/zips.txt

import csv
from places.models import ZipCode
from django.contrib.gis.geos import fromstr as geo_from_str

state_cache = dict()

reader = csv.reader(open('zips.txt'),delimiter=',',quotechar='"')
for row in reader:
    z,created = None,False
    
    if not state_cache.has_key(row[2]):
        state_cache[row[2]] = State.objects.get(abbr=row[2])
    
    z,created = ZipCode.objects.get_or_create(
        zip_id=int(row[1]),
        defaults = {
            'state':state_cache[row[2]],
            'location':geo_from_str("POINT(-%s %s)" % (row[4],row[5]))
        }
    )
    if created:
        z.save()