The history of area codes dates back to the 1950s, when the first area code was assigned to New Jersey. This was during the rotary dial phone era. Cities with large populations were given the easiest-to-dial area codes, such as New York's 212 or Los Angeles' 213. Other areas, such as rural areas, were given numbers that were harder to dial. The 1960s saw the standardization of emergency phone numbers, and children of that time were taught to call "nine-eleven" in case they needed help. In the early 1990s, some areas split up an existing area code into more geographic regions, increasing the number of available phone numbers within the same geographic area. This created the "overlay" system, which increased the number of available area codes within the same geographic area. Because area codes are used for local calls, residents in these areas had to dial 10-digit area codes instead of the usual seven-digit ones. Area codes were introduced to the public in the early 1950s as a part of the Bell System's push for Direct Distance and automated dialing. These codes were first introduced through a beta testing process, and the city chosen for the first implementation was Englewood, N.J. This city was close to the Bell Labs and had switch equipment that was adaptable to automation. The idea of using only numbers was revolutionary at the time, as it would eliminate names and letters. It would also mean that existing phone numbers would have to be reformatted to make room for the new system. Area codes now come under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), and are assigned for the United States, Canada, and US territories, except for Mexico. The proliferation of area codes has become a major topic in popular culture, and it's not just limited to phone calls. Many municipalities have multiple local area codes in order to cater to the growing need for phone numbers. In fact, many have more than one, and it's not uncommon to see more than one in the same city. Many people have been asking, when did area codes start? The answer is a little complicated. They began in 1947 when the first area code was assigned to North America. The numbering system was designed to provide ease of use for phone callers. Today, area codes are used by local governments to promote local economies. Before the advent of area codes, people used usernames without numbers. These usernames still exist today, but there are now numbers that are unique to that area. This allows people to call anyone who is within that area. There are now a total of 418 area codes in the United States, as well as some in Canada and the Caribbean. Before the 1960s, telephone numbers were based on people's names. The first two letters of a name were capitalized, and corresponding numbers were dialed from the left to right. This system continued until the 1960s. Prior to the 1960s, telephone numbers consisted of three or four digits. Moreover, phone exchanges were given names, which helped people identify the location of a city.
When Did Area Codes Start?
The history of area codes dates back to the 1950s, when the first area code was assigned to New Jersey. This was during the rotary dial phone era. Cities with large populations were given the easiest-to-dial area codes, such as New York's 212 or Los Angeles' 213. Other areas, such as rural areas, were given numbers that were harder to dial. The 1960s saw the standardization of emergency phone numbers, and children of that time were taught to call "nine-eleven" in case they needed help. In the early 1990s, some areas split up an existing area code into more geographic regions, increasing the number of available phone numbers within the same geographic area. This created the "overlay" system, which increased the number of available area codes within the same geographic area. Because area codes are used for local calls, residents in these areas had to dial 10-digit area codes instead of the usual seven-digit ones. Area codes were introduced to the public in the early 1950s as a part of the Bell System's push for Direct Distance and automated dialing. These codes were first introduced through a beta testing process, and the city chosen for the first implementation was Englewood, N.J. This city was close to the Bell Labs and had switch equipment that was adaptable to automation. The idea of using only numbers was revolutionary at the time, as it would eliminate names and letters. It would also mean that existing phone numbers would have to be reformatted to make room for the new system. Area codes now come under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), and are assigned for the United States, Canada, and US territories, except for Mexico. The proliferation of area codes has become a major topic in popular culture, and it's not just limited to phone calls. Many municipalities have multiple local area codes in order to cater to the growing need for phone numbers. In fact, many have more than one, and it's not uncommon to see more than one in the same city. Many people have been asking, when did area codes start? The answer is a little complicated. They began in 1947 when the first area code was assigned to North America. The numbering system was designed to provide ease of use for phone callers. Today, area codes are used by local governments to promote local economies. Before the advent of area codes, people used usernames without numbers. These usernames still exist today, but there are now numbers that are unique to that area. This allows people to call anyone who is within that area. There are now a total of 418 area codes in the United States, as well as some in Canada and the Caribbean. Before the 1960s, telephone numbers were based on people's names. The first two letters of a name were capitalized, and corresponding numbers were dialed from the left to right. This system continued until the 1960s. Prior to the 1960s, telephone numbers consisted of three or four digits. Moreover, phone exchanges were given names, which helped people identify the location of a city.