The United States capital city of Washington, DC is located in the heart of the nation and home to some of the most iconic monuments and landmarks in the country. The area code for Washington DC is 202, and the city is served by a number of other area codes in the surrounding region.
History of the 202 Area Code
The 202 area code was first established in 1947, when the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) was introduced. At the time, it was one of the original 86 area codes in use in the United States. The NANP was designed to help simplify the process of dialing long distance calls, and the 202 area code was used to cover the greater Washington DC area.
Washington DC Metro Area
The 202 area code covers the greater Washington DC metro area, including parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This area includes Washington DC’s inner suburbs, such as Arlington, Fairfax, and Montgomery counties, as well as some of the outer suburbs, such as Prince George’s and Howard counties. In addition, the 202 area code covers the east side of the Potomac River in Maryland and the west side of the Potomac in Virginia.
Expansion of the 202 Area Code
Due to population growth and the proliferation of cell phones, the 202 area code has had to be expanded multiple times over the years. In 1995, the 703 area code was created to cover the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. In 1997, the 301 area code was split off from the 202 area code to cover the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC. In 2000, the 540 area code was split off from the 202 area code to cover the western Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. Finally, in 2017, the 571 area code was created to cover the inner suburbs of Washington DC.
Other Area Codes in the Washington DC Metro Area
In addition to the 202 area code, there are several other area codes in the Washington DC metro area. These include the 703, 301, 540, and 571 area codes. Each of these area codes covers a portion of the greater Washington DC metro area, as well as parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Conclusion
Washington DC is serviced by the 202 area code, as well as several other area codes in the surrounding region. The 202 area code was first established in 1947 and has since been expanded multiple times due to population growth and the proliferation of cell phones. The 202 area code is used to cover the greater Washington DC area, including parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Other area codes in the Washington DC metro area include the 703, 301, 540, and 571 area codes.
