That was the original plan and it was implemented in NYC, but then the courts ruled it unfair, because it favours one device and certain companies over the other. That is why places with overlays have 10 digit dialing, because if you have 847 and 224 and only require 224 numbers to dial 10 digits you are handicapping companies that only have blocks of 224 numbers. So to make it equal they require 10 digital dialing. Actually 11 digits with the 1
I like the area code I have now–337–but that’s about the only thing I like about the place. I’ll be so glad when moving is feasible again.
I’m not attached to it, but it was weird getting used to dialing the new one when I called my parents–several times I accidentally called some stranger because my fingers were on autopilot.
It did rather amuse me the logic used in splitting the 2 area codes in the state into 4. When I was growing up, we had two area codes, splitting the state roughly in half. West was 502, and east was 606. Then either during or right after college, they basically split the western half of the state into Louisville and everything else. Louisville got to keep the old area code because it was just easier to leave it the same for the major population center. A year or so later, they split the eastern part of the state into basically Lexington and everything else. And Lexington got the new area code because it was just easier for the major population center to have the new one.
I’m attached to my 661, although now that I’m in Santa Barbara I think I may get an 805. It really shouldn’t be this difficult to figure out.
I’d be sorry to lose 703 - we’ve had it for 20+ years. I think I’d have a hell of a time remembering another one.
We already have 571 as an overlay and every time I see a 571 number, I have to think “is that local???”. When we got cell phones for the kids, we could only get 571 and I feel like there’s a rift driven between us! (just kidding!!)
I like my 647 number. Home is a 416 number and it just feels so stodgy.
I’ve lived within the same 40-mile radius my entire life, and I’ve had four different area codes (213, 323, 626 & 909). Getting attached to an area code living in the LA area is just silly.
jasonh300:
516 used to cover all of Long Island, but it was split up quite a while back. Nassau County got to keep 516, and Suffolk County had to change to 631.
Interesting. I wonder why, in 1947, Iowa was given 3 area codes, and outstate Illinois was given 3. All of California had only 3, and from what I can see, in 1950, California had about 11x as many people as Iowa.
703 has been what I’ve been used to for most of my life (except for when I lived briefly in the area that became 540 as they changed it and moved back into a 703 area afterward). Personally, I really couldn’t care, about it except for the whole matter of getting used to a new number and having to update anyone else that changed.
I will say, however, that the 571 overlay does bother me in the way that you say above because it’s not the same area… but it is. I’ve generally gotten over that, but moreso, it seems like the vast majority of 571 numbers are cell phones, so I generally assume that a 571 number is someone’s cell. It’s not really a big issue, but it can be annoying if I’m calling 571 hoping to reach them when they’re not at home and, of course, I don’t.
This day and age, with the ubiquity of cell phones and people pretty much owning those numbers for life, I really don’t understand the whole idea of being attached to an area code. The only real advantage I still see if them being attached to a specific geographic location (since all the switching is done by computers so, I’d think that it wouldn’t be technologically advantageous anymore) is that it makes it easier to remember a number since I only really have to remember 7 digits and not 10, but even that doesn’t matter much since I hardly ever have to dial from memory anymore.
No. I had 508 until I was 20. I never felt any particular attachment to 508 and recently they started making people use the area code even in the area - which just makes me really not want the area code again.
From 20-27 I had 413. I didn’t live there long enough to form an attachment to the area code, although I loved the area itself.
Now I live in 518. I very rarely use my area code and I rarely even think about it. If I do have to use it, I will generally use 508 first - just out of habit.
I’ve grown attached to my 404 Atlanta codes, and using cellphones and Vonage I get to keep them here in Sacramento.
I did notice that since Sacramento basically has one code, 916, everyone assumes that is your number. Phone numbers on signs say “123-1234”, not “916-123-1234”. Very frustrating on your first day in the city driving around looking for a rental home. When giving my number out as “404-xxx-xxxx” people always get tripped up as they’ve already written down “916-404-…”.
Nobody makes assumptions like that in Atlanta given that multiple codes span the city.
My 580 sucks. I didn’t care for 405 when I lived there. I still miss my childhood 918. It was so much larger than everyone else’s.
Meh, I remember when 312 was my area code when I lived in Aurora as a kid. Decidedly NOT a cool area code to me!
I like 773. It’s where I live. Wouldn’t care if it changed except for having to contact everyone on my list to have them change it.
It seems quite petty to be so emotionally attached to something as ordinary as your Area Code, but I hope that I’ll always live in 208 (Idaho). If we ever get so populous that we need a second Area Code, I hope it is an overlay.
About 25 years ago the two largest towns in Shoshone County each got a third prefix. Those of us who were assigned the new prefix have lost a little prestige. Generally speaking, if your number starts with 752 or 753, it means you have had your number since the exchange was known as SKyline. Those of us who were assigned numbers with the 556 prefix are regarded as second class citizens. I hope to not suffer a further blow to my esteem by having a new Area Code.
603, 508… it’s made no difference to me.
I noticed that too. Did you notice Texas was the only southern state to have more than one?
Perhaps Iowa had more phones? Or maybe the population was more spread out equally?
It’s probably like with TV, the markets in the east are much smaller. Like Baltimore and Washington are two TV markets as are Boston and Providence and both of them are close enough to be one market.
While you have San Jose and San Francisco as one market for TV, but the cities are far enough apart to be two TV markets.
Perhaps it’s historical or poltical.