Area Codes - North American Telephone Area Codes

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Telephone area codes are three-digit numbers that are assigned to specific locations or usages. Each state in the USA, each province in Canada, and certain island countries and territories (primarily in the Caribbean) are assigned one or more area codes, based on phone service requirements. Other area codes are dedicated to toll-free service and specialized telephone services. When making long distance phone calls between cities with differing area codes, callers must dial one ("1") plus an area code before dialing the seven-digit phone number.

Originally, most area codes were assigned to geographically distinct areas. Over time, some areas have allocated most of their available phone numbers due to population growth and the unanticipated use of separate phone numbers for fax machines and cell phones. Area code splits or overlays have occurred in such areas. An area code split occurs when an existing area is divided into two parts, one having a new area code and the other continuing to use the old area code. Alternatively, a new area code may overlay an area already assigned to another area code. In the latter case, existing phone numbers need not be changed, but callers within the overlay area must include the area code even when dialing local phone numbers.

For your convenience, Area-Codes.org features a list of active Area Codes, sorted numerically, along with their locations or usages, countries, and time zones. You can also search for area codes using two additional lookup tables, listing area codes sorted by country and location. For more information about telephone area codes, please consult your local telephone directory and this authoritative Federal Communications Commission article entitled Area Codes: Frequently Asked Questions and Fact Sheet.

NANP, the North American Numbering Plan, is the numbering plan for the Public Switched Telephone Network in Canada, the Caribbean region, and the United States and its territories. For information about NANP and its administration, please visit NANPA. Visit Area Code Maps for geographic coverage in each state of the USA and this Canadian Area Code Map for coverage information in each Canadian province. Information about area code and telephone regulatory bodies is available at Area-Code.us. If you are looking for geographic area codes, please visit this website which is maintained by the Library of Congress.

Related Area Code Websites

Verizon's Introduction to Area Codes page features area code maps, area code and country code lookup pages, and information about the history of area codes.
Qwest Communications' Area Code Finder page provides maps showing area code coverage in each region of the USA.