About The Oldest Area Code In America
It was also the first area code with Direct Distance Dialing (DDD) service
An area code is defined as a three-digit code that identifies one of the telephone areas into which the U.S. and certain other countries are divided. An area code precedes the local telephone number when dialing a call between areas.
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Area code 201 is the oldest area code in America which covers northeastern New Jersey. It has a single overlay (551) that serves the same area and is located in the Eastern time zone. The Eastern time zone is also known as America/New_York.
In fact, this oldest area code was also the first Direct Distance Dialing number and could place a call all the way to Alameda, California. Area code 201 is still in use today and has become an iconic symbol of the state's identity and history.
The 201 area code was established in 1947 as one of the original area codes for the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which was designed to streamline and simplify telephone numbering across North America.
The 201 area code originally covered the entire state of New Jersey because it was the state with the highest population density in the nation at the time. But as the population of New Jersey grew and more phone numbers were needed, new area codes were added. Today, New Jersey currently utilizes 10 area codes.
Currently the 201 oldest area code covers parts of northeastern New Jersey. There are numerous cities with a 201 area code. The biggest cities amongst them include Jersey City, Union City, Bayonne and Hoboken.
Hoboken is one of the most well known of New Jersey’s cities. It is an artsy city, known for being the birthplace of Frank Sinatra, where baseball was invented, where the zipper was invented, and where the first Oreo cookie was sold.
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The history of area codes in the United States dates back to the 1940s, when the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) was established to standardize telephone numbering across North America.
Under the NANP, each telephone number consists of a three-digit area code and a seven-digit local number. When the NANP was first implemented in 1947, there were only 86 area codes assigned, covering the entire United States and Canada.
However, as the number of telephone subscribers increased, new area codes had to be added to accommodate the demand. In the early years, area codes were assigned based on geographical regions, with each state or major metropolitan area receiving its own code.
For example, the first area codes in New York City were 212 (Manhattan) and 718 (outer boroughs). This was done in order to facilitate telephone communication and organization.
As the demand for new area codes grew, the NANP implemented a system of overlay codes, where new codes were added to existing areas rather than creating entirely new regions. This allowed more telephone numbers to be assigned without requiring customers to change their phone numbers.
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Today, there are hundreds of area codes in use throughout the United States, with many regions having multiple codes due to population growth and increased demand for telephone numbers.
Area codes are now assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), a division of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and are generally based on population density and demand.
