Area code 856
Encyclopedia
Area code 856 is an area code in the U.S. state
of New Jersey
created in 1999 by a split of area code 609
. It covers southwestern New Jersey, in particular the Haddon Township
/Cherry Hill
and Vineland
areas, as well as a very small part of Willingboro Township
, along with the western part of Burlington County
, while 609 covers the rest of Willingboro and the areas to the north and east. Essentially, 856 covers the areas directly adjacent to Philadelphia
. The coverage area comprises the eastern suburbs of Philadelphia.
was introduced in 1951 as the first area code to be assigned in the United States
as part of the North American Numbering Plan
, covering the entire state of New Jersey with a single area code. Until 1958, 201 was the only area code serving New Jersey; That year, the state split the area code, with the southern portion of the state becoming area code 609
.
With the increasing demand for phone numbers needed for businesses, fax machines, pager
s and cell phones, the 609 area code exhausted its capacity. The 856 area code was announced by Bell Atlantic in March 1999 and approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
shortly thereafter. The new area code 856 came into effect on June 12, 1999. For the following five months, permissive dialing was allowed, with calls completed even if area code 856 was not dialed as part of a 10-digit phone number. As of November 13, 1999, use of the area code was required to complete calls from outside the area code.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
created in 1999 by a split of area code 609
Area code 609
Area code 609, is located in southeastern and central New Jersey. The telephone code includes the cities of Trenton, Princeton, and Atlantic City....
. It covers southwestern New Jersey, in particular the Haddon Township
Haddon Township, New Jersey
Haddon Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 14,707....
/Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
and Vineland
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
areas, as well as a very small part of Willingboro Township
Willingboro Township, New Jersey
Willingboro is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 31,629....
, along with the western part of Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, while 609 covers the rest of Willingboro and the areas to the north and east. Essentially, 856 covers the areas directly adjacent to Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. The coverage area comprises the eastern suburbs of Philadelphia.
History
Area code 201Area code 201
201 is the North American telephone area code for the state of New Jersey covering most of Bergen County, as well as parts of Essex, Hudson and Passaic. It is overlaid with area code 551....
was introduced in 1951 as the first area code to be assigned in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as part of the North American Numbering Plan
North American Numbering Plan
The North American Numbering Plan is an integrated telephone numbering plan administered by Neustar which encompasses 24 countries and territories, including the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, and 16 nations of the Caribbean...
, covering the entire state of New Jersey with a single area code. Until 1958, 201 was the only area code serving New Jersey; That year, the state split the area code, with the southern portion of the state becoming area code 609
Area code 609
Area code 609, is located in southeastern and central New Jersey. The telephone code includes the cities of Trenton, Princeton, and Atlantic City....
.
With the increasing demand for phone numbers needed for businesses, fax machines, pager
Pager
A pager is a simple personal telecommunications device for short messages. A one-way numeric pager can only receive a message consisting of a few digits, typically a phone number that the user is then requested to call...
s and cell phones, the 609 area code exhausted its capacity. The 856 area code was announced by Bell Atlantic in March 1999 and approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a regulatory authority in New Jersey charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water,...
shortly thereafter. The new area code 856 came into effect on June 12, 1999. For the following five months, permissive dialing was allowed, with calls completed even if area code 856 was not dialed as part of a 10-digit phone number. As of November 13, 1999, use of the area code was required to complete calls from outside the area code.