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How Area Codes have Changed Throughout the Years
- Updated: November 15, 2024
By Mike Villarreal
In 1947, AT&T and independent telephone operators established the North American Numbering Plan to divide North America into distinct numbering plan areas, with each area assigned a unique three-digit area code. That same year, Texas received its first four area codes: 214, 512, 713, and 915. Area code 214 covered the Dallas area, 512 encompassed most of South Central Texas, including cities like Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Harlingen, and McAllen, 713 served the southeastern region from the Sabine River to the Brazos Valley, and 915 was designated for El Paso.
For most of the second half of the 20th century, these original four area codes in Texas remained unchanged for 45 years. In 1992, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley were assigned area code 210, making 512 the last of Texas’s original codes to be split. Although the largest city usually retains its original area code, state regulators allowed Austin to keep the 512 code to avoid the disruption and expenses associated with changing numbers for state agencies in and around the capital. The 512 code is even referenced in a song by Selena Quintanilla titled “El Chico Del Apartamento 512,” released in 1995, which relates to Corpus Christi’s former code.
Initially created as a split from area code 512, area code 210 was implemented on November 1, 1992. This area code served San Antonio, much of the Hill Country, and the Rio Grande Valley. However, after only a few years, rapid growth and the popularity of cell phones and pagers led to the exhaustion of available numbers.
A three-way split occurred on July 7, 1997, to address this issue. San Antonio and the Hill Country suburbs were assigned area code 830, while most of Bexar County retained area code 210. On the same day, the Rio Grande Valley received area code 956. Area code 956 covers the Rio Grande Valley’s lower and middle regions, including Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo, and South Padre Island. This creation acknowledged the unique and distinct identity of the growing communities in southern Texas.
Over the years, the 956 area code has adapted and expanded to meet the region’s changing demographic and technological needs. 2003, a 361 area code overlay was introduced to support the valley’s growing communication demands.
By late 2027, area code 956 is expected to be exhausted, necessitating the introduction of an additional area code in the Rio Grande Valley. In the RGV, the 956 area code has become a cultural catchphrase among millennials and those who grew up in the 90s, featured on various merchandise like shirts, keychains, caps, and stickers.
