Area codes 213 and 323

Coordinates: 34°03′19″N 118°15′24″W / 34.0552°N 118.2568°W / 34.0552; -118.2568
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
458/541775702928442/760916/279530707209559831805661858909951619213323707916/279415650510/341925408209831805661442/760310/424747/818626909951949562657/714
Numbering plan areas in California (blue) and border states.

Area codes 213 and 323 are telephone

area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the U.S. state of California. They are assigned in an overlay complex to a numbering plan area (NPA) that comprises, roughly, the area of central Los Angeles, including several Southeast LA communities, such as Bell and Huntington Park. Area code 213 was one of the original North American area codes of 1947 and 323 was created in an area code split
of 213 in 1998. This was the fifth split of 213 and left it serving only downtown Los Angeles and immediately adjoining neighborhoods. In 2017, the two NPAs were recombined in the overlay.

Area code 738 has been selected as an additional overlay area code for activation in November 2024.

History

In 1947, when the

Bakersfield
, to change from area code 415 to 213.

As a result of southern California's rapid expansion of telephone service during the second half of the 20th century, area code 213 was split five times in the period from 1951 to 1998. In the 21st century

area code overlays
have become more practical.

1951–1998: Area code splits

The first split became necessary in 1951, when most of the southern and eastern portion, including

area code 310.[2]

In 1998, the Los Angeles NPA was divided once more, to create area code 323.

Chinatown. Completely surrounding 213, 323 included most of the remainder of central Los Angeles, including Hollywood, as well as several neighboring cities, including Bell, Huntington Park and Montebello.[4]

Since 2017: Overlay codes

Despite Southern California's continued growth and the proliferation of cell phones and pagers, 213 was not projected to exhaust until 2050. In contrast, 323 was projected to exhaust in 2017.[4] Since 213 still had an abundance of numbers available, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a plan that erased the boundaries between both area codes, converting the area to an overlay complex for all of central Los Angeles. Since this change went into full effect on July 8, 2017, telephone companies have been able to assign any available 213 numbers in the former 323 area and vice versa, and customers have been required to dial the area code for all calls.[5][6] This change returned 213 to some areas that had used it for more than half a century prior to 1998.[3] Even so, within five years of the boundary elimination, it was determined that further relief would be required for 213/323.

Based on exhaustion studies of the numbering plan area, the California Public Utilities Commission approved an additional all-services overlay code on March 16, 2023, by selection of area code 738.[7][8] The projected in-service date is November 1, 2024.

Service area

Cities and communities in the overlay complex include:[3][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mabbs, Ralph (Winter 1947–1948). "Nation-Wide Operator Toll Dialing—the Coming Way". Bell Telephone Magazine. 26 (4): 181. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  2. ^ NANPA, Bellcore Information Letter IL-90/08-055
  3. ^ a b c Prosper, Terry (2016-07-14). "CPUC Provides For More Phone Numbers in 323 Area Code" (PDF). California Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
  4. ^ a b "323 Area Code". California Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  5. ^ "April 2015 NPA Exhaust Projections" (PDF). Nanpa.com.
  6. ^ "Application of the North American Numbering Plan Administrator" (PDF). cpuc.ca. November 24, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Area Codes and Numbering, California Public Utilities Commission (Retrieved 2023-06-28).
  8. ^ "Planning Letters" (PDF). NANPA. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  9. ^ "323 Area Code Background". California Public Utilities Commission. Retrieved August 24, 2017.

External links

840/909, 925, 949, 951
North:
747/818, 626
West: 310/424 213/323 East: 626
South: 310/424, 562
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Area_codes_213_and_323&oldid=1218122840"