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 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