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Area Code History
When did area codes first come into use?
The area code system was developed by AT&T and Bell Laboratories in the 1940's, and went into effect in 1947. It was called the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and included the United States and Canada .
How were the original area codes distributed?
In 1947, states and provinces that had a single area code we assigned three digit codes with 0 as the middle number, such as 203 for Connecticut and 305 for Florida . There were 86 area codes at that time.
States and provinces that had more than one area code distributed to them were given three digit codes with 1 as the middle number, such as 916 and 213 for various sections of California , and 212 and 518 for various sections of New York .
The first and third digits were allotted according to population density in the city or region the area code was going to, with the most populated areas getting the lowest numbers. The New York City area, for example, was assigned 212, while the surrounding suburbs were assigned 914.
The rationale for this “low number/high population” scheme was based on the fact that phones had rotary dials in those days. Lower numbers resulted in shorter “dial pulls” so it was reasoned that the regions with the most people in them should require the least “work” to call.
What were the first area codes ever assigned in North America ?
The following are the first 86 areas codes assigned in 1947:
| Original Canada Area Codes: 1947 |
| Province |
Area Code |
Section (if applicable) |
| Alberta | 403 | |
| British Columbia | 604 | |
| Manitoba | 204 | |
| Maritime Prov's. | 902 | |
| Ontario | 416 | southern |
| Ontario | 613 | northern |
| Québec | 418 | eastern |
| Québec | 514 | western |
| Saskatchewan | 306 | |
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| Original United States Area Codes: 1947 |
| State |
Area Code |
Section (if applicable) |
| Alabama |
205 |
|
| Arizona |
602 |
|
| Arkansas |
501 |
|
| California |
213 |
southern |
| California |
415 |
central |
| California |
916 |
northern |
| Colorado |
303 |
|
| Connecticut |
203 |
|
| Delaware |
302 |
|
| Florida |
305 |
|
| Georgia |
404 |
|
| Idaho |
208 |
|
| Illinois |
217 |
Springfield, East St. Louis |
| Illinois |
312 |
Chicago metro region |
| Illinois |
618 |
southern |
| Illinois |
815 |
northern |
| Indiana |
317 |
northern |
| Indiana |
812 |
southern |
| Iowa |
319 |
eastern |
| Iowa |
515 |
central |
| Iowa |
712 |
western |
| Kansas |
316 |
southern |
| Kansas |
913 |
northern |
| Kentucky |
502 |
|
| Louisiana |
504 |
|
| Massachusetts |
413 |
outside Boston metro region |
| Massachusetts |
617 |
Boston metro region |
| Maine |
207 |
|
| Maryland |
301 |
|
| Mississippi |
601 |
|
| Montana |
406 |
|
| Missouri |
314 |
eastern |
| Missouri |
816 |
western |
| Michigan |
313 |
Detroit, Jackson |
| Michigan |
517 |
northeasterb |
| Michigan |
616 |
western |
| Minnesota |
218 |
northern and western |
| Minnesota |
612 |
southeastern |
| Nebraska |
402 |
|
| Nevada |
702 |
|
| New Hampshire |
603 |
|
| New Jersey |
201 |
|
| New Mexico |
505 |
|
| New York |
212 |
New York City boroughs |
| New York |
315 |
Syracuse, Binghamton, Elmira, Utica, Watertown |
| New York |
518 |
northeastern |
| New York |
716 |
western |
| New York |
914 |
Manhattan suburbs (Long Island, Westchester County, West Point) |
| North Carolina |
704 |
|
| North Dakota |
701 |
|
| Ohio |
216 |
northeastern |
| Ohio |
419 |
northwestern |
| Ohio |
513 |
southwestern |
| Ohio |
614 |
southeastern |
| Oklahoma |
405 |
|
| Oregon |
503 |
|
| Pennsylvania |
215 |
Philadelphia and surrounding area |
| Pennsylvania |
412 |
Pittsburgh and southwestern area |
| Pennsylvania |
717 |
eastern central |
| Pennsylvania |
814 |
western central |
| Rhode Island |
401 |
|
| South Carolina |
803 |
|
| South Dakota |
605 |
|
| Tennessee |
901 |
|
| Texas |
214 |
northeastern |
| Texas |
512 |
southern |
| Texas |
713 |
southeastern |
| Texas |
915 |
western |
| Utah |
801 |
|
| Vermont |
802 |
|
| Virginia |
703 |
|
| Washington |
206 |
|
| Washington DC. |
202 |
|
| West Virginia |
304 |
|
| Wisconsin |
414 |
southern |
| Wisconsin |
715 |
northern |
| Wyoming |
307 |
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