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SunNov 10

Area Code Day – November 10, 2024

Area Code Day is celebrated on November 10. The system of area codes is important as it helps people to connect telephonically with people living outside their states or cities easily and quickly. It ensures that people can receive important information and news, especially in emergencies. Area codes are a useful location finder for homes, businesses, and even government organizations, especially those that use landlines instead of mobile phones. Although they are used less now, due to cellular and smart communication devices, area codes are still fun to know about.

History of Area Code Day

Area Code Day acknowledges the creation and significance of area codes. These codes are defined as a unique sequence of numbers that are dialed before making a call. Area Code Day is a great opportunity to value the existence of these area codes and their ingenious creation. Area codes were created fin the labs of AT&T and Bell in 1940.

The concept of using area codes grew and modified with time. In 1947, area codes helped to overcome the shortage of phone numbers in countries like the U.S. and Canada through the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Different states or provinces were assigned an area code. To make this process more simple, different types of dial codes were given to different states. For example, the area codes for more populous states started and ended with a lower number. During the 1940s, rotary phones were used to make calls, and more densely populated areas such as Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles were assigned simpler three-digit codes that involved less manual rotation for dialing each numerical digit. The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) consisted of 25 different regions, including North America and the Caribbean. However, a few countries of North America, such as Mexico, were not included in the NANP. AT&T went on managing the NANP and finally discontinued it after the administration was handed over to the American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) service, which was led by the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S.

There are two kinds of area codes — local and toll-free. Those that are not toll-free, represent the geographic region to which a phone number belongs.

Area Code Day timeline

1940
The Area Code System is Invented

The area code system is created by AT&T and Bell Laboratories.

1947
Nationwide Numbering Plan is Brought into Action

A nationwide telephone numbering plan is implemented in the U.S.

1951
A Direct Distance Calling System is Introduced

Direct long-distance dialing is implemented throughout the U.S.

1982
The Bell System Ceases

The Bell System stops its service in 1982 and the Bell Telephone company closes its doors in 1983.

Area Code Day FAQs

Is there an area code 999?

The 999 area code doesn’t belong to any city/state in the U.S. or any country in the world.

Is there a unique area code in the United States?

The code 906 is a unique symbol to identify the five Michigan Upper Peninsula counties because the area code is exclusive to the region.

What city has an area code of 666?

The 666 area code belonged to a small town in Louisiana since the early 1960s. By the end of 2007, the code was replaced with a new one as it was considered the number of the beast in the Christian faith.

Area Code Day Activities

  1. Make a surprise call to a loved one

    If you have relatives that live in a different town or city, then make sure to tell them how much you care about them by making them a surprise call this Area Code Day. You can also call your old school friends that you don't talk to that often. Make sure to keep the call short and sweet, and try to call from your old school landline phone to celebrate this day in its true spirit.

  2. Memorize local area codes

    We often get calls from other cities and feel embarrassed when we are unable to identify the area code in the number. If you are someone whose work requires dialing and receiving plenty of local calls on a daily basis, then it can be a great idea to learn some popular area codes used in your country. This would save you from the hassle of googling the area code whenever you get any calls from a different city or state.

  3. Read the history of the area code system

    This day is probably the best time to research the evolution of area codes in the U.S. and learn how they were adopted by the country. You can read different blogs and articles about the American history of area codes and post your thoughts about it online. If you want, you can also use the hashtag #AreaCodeDay to reach out to more people online.

5 Facts About Telephones That Will Blow Your Mind

  1. Limited talk time

    The very first cellular phone had a talk time of just 30 minutes before the battery died.

  2. Mark Twain had a telephone

    Mark Twain was one of the first people who owned a telephone in the U.S. and declined to invest in the Bell company when an opportunity was given him.

  3. Honoring Sir Graham Bell

    After Alexander Graham Bell's sad demise in 1922, all phone services held a minute of silence in recognition of his work.

  4. The first telephone call

    The very first person Graham Bell called with his phone was his assistant, Thomas Watson.

  5. The world's first phone book

    The first phone book came out in 1878 and consisted of only 20 pages.

Why We Love Area Code Day

  1. We learn about the evolution of telephone services

    By celebrating Area Code Day, we get an opportunity to learn how the system was created and implemented in the U.S. Earlier, people had to ask an operator to dial the number of a person they wanted to talk with. Similarly, if someone wanted to call a doctor in case of an emergency, the entire process took extra time because it ran through manual switchboards.

  2. We begin valuing the role of area codes in our daily life

    The expansion of local telephone networks in different American towns and states through area codes has made communication much easier for people. We can easily stay in touch with our friends, family, or colleagues living in a different state or country.

  3. Discovering the exact geographical location becomes easy

    Each particular geographic region can be easily identified through an area code. People can know the exact geographical location of people through their landline number.

Area Code Day dates

Year Date Day
2024 November 10 Sunday
2025 November 10 Monday
2026 November 10 Tuesday
2027 November 10 Wednesday
2028 November 10 Friday