Where Is Area Code 985 Located?

Area code 985 covers Houma and surrounding areas in Louisiana. Local time is Central Time, and from outside the U.S. you dial +1 985 before the seven-digit number. It was created in 2001, when it split off from area code 504. For the full picture, see all Louisiana area codes.

Quick Facts: Area Code 985

State	Louisiana
Primary city	Houma
Cities also served	Houma, Slidell, Hammond, Thibodaux, Mandeville, Covington, Morgan City, Bogalusa
Time zone	Central (UTC-6 / UTC-5 DST)
Country code	+1 (from abroad: +1 985 + 7 digits)
Year established	February 12, 2001
Original 1947 NPA?	No
Split from	504
Overlay codes	None
Currently in use?	Yes, actively assigned
Ten-digit dialing required?	Yes

Cities Served by Area Code 985

Area code 985 serves Southeastern Louisiana, excluding the New Orleans inner ring — spanning the Northshore (north of Lake Pontchartrain), river parishes west of New Orleans, and bayou communities extending to the Gulf of Mexico, including the following cities and communities:

• Houma
• Slidell
• Hammond
• Thibodaux
• Mandeville
• Covington
• Morgan City
• Bogalusa

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 504, 225, 318, 337. Area code assignments are administered by NANPA.

How to Get a 985 Phone Number

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 985 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 985 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Browse our 985 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 985 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
3. Port an existing 985 number. If you already have a 985 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of Louisiana sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 985 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 985 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 985 numbers for Houma, Louisiana — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 985 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 985 area code still in use?
Yes. 985 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Southeastern Louisiana, excluding the New Orleans inner ring — spanning the Northshore (north of Lake Pontchartrain), river parishes west of New Orleans, and bayou communities extending to the Gulf of Mexico.

What is the parent area code of 985?
Area code 985 split off from 504 in 2001. 504 kept the rest of its territory, so the two codes now serve neighboring parts of Louisiana.

Can I get a 985 number if I don't live in Louisiana?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 985 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 985 a scam area code?
No. 985 is a legitimate, active area code for Southeastern Louisiana, excluding the New Orleans inner ring — spanning the Northshore (north of Lake Pontchartrain), river parishes west of New Orleans, and bayou communities extending to the Gulf of Mexico. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 985 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real Louisiana businesses, government offices, and residents.

What cities are in the 985 area code?
Major cities include Houma, Slidell, Hammond, Thibodaux, Mandeville, Covington, Morgan City, Bogalusa, LaPlace, and Franklinton, among many communities across 12 parishes in southeastern Louisiana.

When was area code 985 created?
Area code 985 was put into service on February 12, 2001, as a split from area code 504. It was the 5th area code assigned to Louisiana and the 287th in service nationally.

Does area code 985 have an overlay?
No. As of 2026, area code 985 has no overlay. It is one of fewer than 71 active area codes in the country that still permit 7-digit local dialing within its service area.

What happened to the lower Plaquemines Parish communities that were in 985?
After Hurricane Katrina destroyed local switching facilities in lower Plaquemines Parish, those communities (including Port Sulphur, Buras, and Boothville) were transferred back to area code 504, with mandatory use of 504 effective July 1, 2008.

Related Reading

• When Did We Start Using Area Codes?
• How Many Area Codes Are In the US?
• Who Invented Area Codes?
• Why Use Area Codes For Local Calls?

Looking for a different code? See the complete US area code directory.