In 1947 AT&t introduced the first Nationwide telephone number plan. This marked a significant step in organizing phone communication across the United States.

Part of this plan was the assignment of the original North American area codes which were designed to route calls across different regions. As California is a large and populous state, it was divided into three different numbering plan areas, each with its own area code: 213 for Southern California, 415 for the central portion of the state, and 916 for Northern California. But how many area codes are in California?

Currently, there are 38 active area codes in the Great State of California. But how Califorina started was with a lot less than 38.

The First Three Codes

The first three area codes were carefully selected to reflect the population size and communication needs of the time. The 213 area code covered the booming cities in southern California including Los Angeles while 415 served the central region encompassing San Francisco and its surrounding area.

The 916 area code was designated for Northern California, which was a growing region that had a less concentrated population compared to the southern part of the state. That system worked well for decades, being a great support for the state’s communication infrastructure while it was expanding. 

Keeping Up With Expansion

A running theme for California has been ever-increasing population and technological demands, two things that often go hand in hand. Due to these demands 38 active area codes have been introduced across the state of California.

That expansion is a reflection of the state’s rapid development and increase in the need for more phone numbers for accommodate not only landlines, but internet services, fax machines, Mobile phones, and other forms of communication technology.

Its evolution in the area code system further highlights how far California has come and how it has adapted to the changing telecommunication landscape over the decades. This development has ensured that businesses and people stay connected. But things must change fairly quick as some areas are still running out of available numbers,

Just as Manhattan has the coveted 212, Hollywood boast high prices for phone numbers in their area code. The shrinking number of available area code numbers will continue to raise prices, especially in hotspots across the nation.