Area codes 860 and 959
Encyclopedia
Area code 860 is a telephone
area code that covers most of Connecticut
, except its southwest, which use area codes 203 and 475
. Area code 959, originally announced in August 1999, will overlay
area code 860 when the 860 code nears exhaustion; a date for implementing the 959 area code has yet to be announced. Effective November 14, 2009, all calls within Connecticut must be dialed with 10 digits beginning with the area code, including calls involving two numbers using the same area code.
The 860 area code was created on August 28, 1995 as a split from area code 203
when the latter was cut back to Fairfield County
(except for the Town of Sherman
) and New Haven County
, plus the towns of Bethlehem
, Woodbury
, and a small part of Roxbury
in Litchfield County
. Use of 860 became mandatory October 4, 1996.
due to number conservation measures; in September 2008, it was announced that the 959 area code would overlay 860 within two years (as of August 30, 2011, an activation date for 959 has not been announced.) In March 2009, it was announced that the 203/475 overlay would be activated on December 12, 2009, with the 860/959 overlay becoming active by 2011. Even though the 959 area code does not have a specific start date, all callers in Connecticut must dial 10 digits beginning with the area code (a leading 1+ is required on toll calls originating from landlines, but is not required on local calls, nor on any calls originating from wireless phones) effective November 14, 2009, to reach another Connecticut number, including calls involving two numbers with the same area code.
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
area code that covers most of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, except its southwest, which use area codes 203 and 475
Area codes 203 and 475
Area code 203 is the North American telephone area code that covers the southwestern part of Connecticut. The area code stretches from its western border, along its southern coast, to beyond the city of New Haven, and ends just south of Hartford. 203 overlays with area code 475...
. Area code 959, originally announced in August 1999, will overlay
Overlay
Overlay may refer to:*Overlay architecture, term used to describe ‘event architecture’ and relates to the temporary elements that supplement existing buildings and infrastructure to enable the operation of major sporting events or festivals....
area code 860 when the 860 code nears exhaustion; a date for implementing the 959 area code has yet to be announced. Effective November 14, 2009, all calls within Connecticut must be dialed with 10 digits beginning with the area code, including calls involving two numbers using the same area code.
The 860 area code was created on August 28, 1995 as a split from area code 203
Area code 203
Area code 203 is the North American telephone area code that covers the southwestern part of Connecticut. The area code stretches from its western border, along its southern coast, to beyond the city of New Haven, and ends just south of Hartford. 203 overlays with area code 475...
when the latter was cut back to Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
(except for the Town of Sherman
Sherman, Connecticut
Sherman is the northernmost and least populous town of Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,581 at the 2010 census. The town is named for New Haven's Founding Father, Roger Sherman....
) and New Haven County
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
, plus the towns of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Connecticut
Bethlehem is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,422 at the 2000 census. The town center was designated in the 2000 census as a census-designated place ....
, Woodbury
Woodbury, Connecticut
Woodbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,198 at the 2000 census. The town center is also designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place . Woodbury was founded in 1672....
, and a small part of Roxbury
Roxbury, Connecticut
Roxbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census.-History:Roxbury, whose Indian name was "Shepaug", a Mahican name signifiying "rocky water", was settled about the year 1713...
in Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
. Use of 860 became mandatory October 4, 1996.
Major cities and towns within 860
- BristolBristol, ConnecticutBristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
- East HartfordEast Hartford, ConnecticutEast Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
- EnfieldEnfield, ConnecticutEnfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
- HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
- ManchesterManchester, ConnecticutManchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...
- MiddletownMiddletown, ConnecticutMiddletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
- New BritainNew Britain, ConnecticutNew Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
- NorwichNorwich, ConnecticutRegular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
- StorrsStorrs, ConnecticutStorrs is a census-designated place and part of the town of Mansfield, Connecticut located in eastern Tolland County. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census...
- TorringtonTorrington, ConnecticutTorrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
- West HartfordWest Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
1999 proposal of 860/959 overlay
The Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, in August 1999, proposed an area code overlay for the 860 area code; the new area code was to be 959. This proposal was postponed for nearly a decadeDecade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
due to number conservation measures; in September 2008, it was announced that the 959 area code would overlay 860 within two years (as of August 30, 2011, an activation date for 959 has not been announced.) In March 2009, it was announced that the 203/475 overlay would be activated on December 12, 2009, with the 860/959 overlay becoming active by 2011. Even though the 959 area code does not have a specific start date, all callers in Connecticut must dial 10 digits beginning with the area code (a leading 1+ is required on toll calls originating from landlines, but is not required on local calls, nor on any calls originating from wireless phones) effective November 14, 2009, to reach another Connecticut number, including calls involving two numbers with the same area code.
External links
- List of exchanges from AreaCodeDownload.com, 860 Area Code
- Regulators Have Area Code Plan - 1999 news story on planned overlay