Who Controls Pennsylvania Area Codes?
Until 1997, Pennsylvania had four area codes. However, the widespread adoption of cell phones led to a sharp increase in assigned phone numbers. This necessitated the creation of more codes. Knowing the area codes in the state is useful when dealing with unknown callers. You can also use reverse phone lookup searches to identify these callers.
Currently, there are 14 with some overlaying over others. The area codes used in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the areas they cover are summarized in this table:
| 814 - Location | 223 - Location | ||
| 570 - Location | 412 - Location | ||
| 272 - Location | 724 - Location | ||
| 215 - Location | 878 - Location | ||
| 267 - Location | 582 - Location | ||
| 445 - Location | |||
| 610 - Location | |||
| 484 - Location | |||
| 717 - Location | |||
The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is in charge of deciding which parts of the state get new area codes assigned by the NANPA. The need for a new area code arises because of expanding population and an accompanying increase in the phone numbers assigned to new subscribers.
In 2020, the PUC is in the process of adding a new area code overlay to the 814 area code and they have started the process of educating citizens about the changes to expect. One of those changes is that everyone in the overlaid area code will start dialing the complete 10 digits that make up a phone number instead of just the seven-digit number comprising the prefix code and line number they are used to dialing when calling the same area code.
Where is Area Code 814?
Area code 814, one of the original area codes established in 1947, covers the northwestern region. It serves parts of 27 counties in Pennsylvania. Some of the counties served by area code 814 include Erie County, Crawford County, Bedford County, Venango County, Centre County, Blair County, Jefferson County, McKean County, and Somerset County. Some major cities covered include Meadville, State College, Bradford, St Mary’s, Dubois, Oil City, Westmont, Huntingdon, and Altoona.
Where is Area Code 412?
Another one of the area codes that have been in existence since 1947, area code 412 majorly serves Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. Allegheny County falls under this jurisdiction as well as cities like Pittsburgh, Carnegie, Clairton, Bethel Park, Ross Township, Oakmont, Monroeville, Mount Lebanon, Shaler Township, Turtle Creek, and Baldwin.
Where is Area Code 717?
The third of the original four area codes established at inception, area code 717 covers the central area of Pennsylvania. Counties served under this area code include Lancaster, Adams, York, Perry, Dauphin, Juniata, Cumberland, Berks, Mifflin, and Franklin. Some major cities under this area code include Harrisburg, Ephrata, Chambersburg, Colonial Park, Weigelstown, Hanover, Shiloh, Hershey, Columbia, and Carlisle.
Where is Area Code 215?
Area code 215 is the last of the original four area codes created for Pennsylvania and it covers the Philadelphia region and surrounding areas. Three major counties that are served under this area code are Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery. Some major cities that are under this jurisdiction include Levittown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Horsham, Bristol, Montgomeryville, Croydon, Morrisville, Quakertown, and Harleysville.
Where is Area Code 724?
Area code 724 is an overlay of the 412 area code and also covers the Pittsburgh area. Some of the counties served are Washington, Westmoreland, Butler, Beaver, Fayette, Indiana, Crawford, Greene, Armstrong and Clarion. Cities like New Castle, Murrysville, Hermitage, Greensburg, Sharon, New Kensington, Fernway, Uniontown, and Jeanette are all under this jurisdiction.
Where is Area Code 878?
Area code 878 is also an overlay on the 412 area code in Pennsylvania. It covers the same areas as 412 and 724 area codes. Cities like Franklin Park, Lower Burrell, South Park Township, Munhall, Brentwood, Carnot-Moon, and other cities around the Pittsburgh area in Pennsylvania are under this area code.
Where is Area Code 223?
Area code 223 is an overlay of area code 717. This means it was introduced to serve as an extra area code to cater for the teeming population of new subscribers in the south central region of Pennsylvania. It serves the same areas as area code 717 which means counties and cities like Perry, Fulton, Snyder, Juniata, Elizabethtown, Waynesboro, East York, Middletown, and Gettysburg are provisioned under this area code.
Where is Area Code 267?
Area code 267 is an overlay on the area code 215 that covers Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Asides the cities and counties already named under area code 215, other communities that are served by this area code include Perkasie, Fairless Hills, Hatboro, Doylestown, Richboro, Ambler, Souderton, Kulpsville, Maple Glen, and Oreland.
Where is Area Code 445?
Area code 445 was put into service in 2018 as an overlay that covers the same region as area codes 215 and 267.
Where is Area Code 570?
Area code 570 was activated in 1998 and covers the northeastern region of Pennsylvania. Counties like Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Columbia, Bradford, Pike, Lycoming, Northumberland, Wayne, Carbon, and Clinton are all under this jurisdiction. Area code 570 also serves cities like Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Hazleton, Bloomsburg, Pottsville, Dunmore, Kingston, Sunbury, and many others.
Where is Area Code 272?
Area code 272 was activated in 2013 as an overlay of area code 570. It also covers the northeastern region part of Pennsylvania. Cities like Lock Haven, Carbondale, Old Forge, Pittston, Shamokin, Tamaqua, Milton, Archbald, Blakely, Arlington Heights, Duryea, Edwardsville, and more are all in the region served by this area code.
Where is Area Code 610?
Area code 610 was activated in 1994 and covers the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. Delaware, Chester, Lehigh, Northampton, and Berks counties are all in this region. Cities under this jurisdiction include Allentown, Reading, Bethlehem, Norristown, Chester, Drexel Hill, Easton, Pottstown, West Chester, Fullerton, Coatesville, Yeadon, Darby, Broomall, Lansdowne, Emmaus, and many others.
Where is Area Code 484?
Area code 484 was activated in 1999 as an overlay and covers the same southeastern region as area code 610. Therefore, Delaware, Lehigh, and Northampton counties use this area code too. Allentown, Reading, Bethlehem, and other cities in this region are also served by this area code.
Where is Area Code 582?
The 582 area code was created in 1998 as a split from area code 717 and serves counties and cities. Some major cities served by the area code include Altoona, Bradford, DuBois, Erie, Meadville, Oil City, Titusville, Johnstown, St. Marys, and Warren.