California Area Codes

• California has 30 area codes. Michael Rowe/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  California started with only three area codes, but thanks to splits and overlays over the years, it now has 30 area codes covering vastly different geographic swaths of land. Some, like the tiny 213 area code in downtown Los Angeles, cover only a few square miles while others, like the massive 760 area code in eastern California, cover many counties.

Original California Area Codes

• California started out with only three area codes, which were instituted in 1947. Area code 213 covered all of southern California, area code 415 covered central California up to San Francisco, and area code 916 covered northern California.

Area Code Splits in the 1980s

• The first area code split was the creation of the 714 area code in 1951; the new area code covered Orange and San Diego Counties. The 805 area code was created in 1957, separating the Santa Barbara area from 213. The 209 area code split from the 916 area code in 1958, covering the northern San Joaquin Valley. In 1959, the 707 area code split from 415 to cover northwestern California. In 1969, the 408 area code split from 415 to cover San Jose and environs. The 619 area code was formed for San Diego County and southeastern California, including the Mojave Desert in 1982, splitting from 714. In 1984, the 818 area code was created to cover the San Fernando Valley, separating it from 213.

Area Code Splits in the 1990s and 2000s

• The 310 area code was formed in 1991 from 213 and covered west Los Angeles and southwest Los Angeles County. Also in 1991, the 510 area code was formed to cover the East Bay, splitting off from 415. In 1992, San Bernardino County left the 213 area code, forming the 909 area code.

  The 530 area code split from 916 in 1997, covering the Redding and Lake Tahoe areas. The San Diego County area code of 619 split in 1997, with 760 covering Palm Springs and the Mojave Desert. Also in 1997, the 562 area code was created in Long Beach, formerly part of 310; and the 626 area code was formed in the Pasadena area, splitting from 818. In 1997, the San Francisco peninsula got its own area code, 650, splitting from 415.

  The 323 area code split from 213 in 1998, forming a circle around downtown Los Angeles. The 831 area code was also created in 1998, splitting Monterey and surrounding cities from 408. Contra Costa and Alameda Counties were split from the East San Francisco Bay in 1998 with the creation of the 925 area code. Also in 1998, the 559 area code was created for the Fresno area, splitting from 209. Orange County's southern half became the 949 area code. The 661 area code split off from the 805 area code in 1999, and was assigned northernmost Los Angeles County. Northern San Diego County split from the rest of the county in 1999 with the creation of the 858 area code.

  In 2004, Riverside County was split off from San Bernardino County with the creation of the 951 area code.

Area Code Overlays

• An overlay area code covers the same geographic area as an already-existing area code, and is used when an area code starts to run out of available phone numbers. Area code 424 was added to 310 in 2006. In 2008, the 657 overlay area code covered the 714 area. The 442 area code was laid over 760 in 2009. Also in 2009, the 747 area code was created to overlay 818.