Understanding Area Codes: A Complete Guide

Area codes are an essential part of the North American telephone numbering system. Originally introduced in 1947, they help route calls to the correct geographic location.

The first area codes were assigned to the largest cities and most populous regions. Lower numbers like 212 (New York) and 213 (Los Angeles) were given to areas with the most phone lines.

As phone usage grew, new area codes were added through splits and overlays. A split divides a geographic area into two or more regions with different codes. An overlay adds a new code to the same geographic area, requiring 10-digit dialing.

Today, with cell phones and VoIP technology, area codes are less tied to physical locations. Number portability allows you to keep your number when moving, meaning someone with a California area code might actually live in New York.

Understanding area codes can help you identify where a call is coming from and whether it might be legitimate. However, scammers can spoof area codes, so always exercise caution with unknown callers.