Houston Area Codes - Different parts of town? Just Random? (Dallas: house, live)

[eloon]

I can't make any sense of the Houston area codes.

I'm originally from Dallas. When I was young, everybody was 214. Then they started adding 972. Seemed like more of the East part of town became 972, while the inner parts were 214. For example, my home phone changed from 214 to 972. Then they started throwing in 469 and I'm not sure if it has any geographical boundaries (more cell phones are 469 than land lines in my experience).

I know Houston has 713, 281, and 832. But do these have any geographical logic, or are they pretty much random by now.

[eloon]

So a quick wiki search (via google) yielded this result:

North American telephone area codes 281, 713 and 832 are area codes which serve the Houston area.
Area code 713 was one of the original area codes established in October, 1947. On March 19, 1983, the area was divided: the Houston metropolitan area retained the 713 code, but the surrounding area changed to 409. On November 2, 1996, area code 713 was split into two parts divided by Beltway 8, for the most part. Addresses inside the beltway kept the 713 area code while those outside the beltway were assigned the new 281 area code.[1] Later, on January 16, 1999, area code 832 was created as an overlay for the entire combined area. The former 281/713 boundary was "erased", and new phone numbers may be assigned as any of the three area codes regardless of physical location.


Just in case anybody was curious. Area codes 281, 713, and 832 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[jfre81]

There really aren't any boundaries anymore, but many 713 numbers that have been around for a long time remain inside the Beltway.

All of Southeast Texas including Houston was 713 until about the early 80s or so.

[Sea2LV2Hou]

Yeah... no boundaries. It's just more area codes to allow for more numbers. I live on the far west side of the city and I have a 713 number.

[Texas User]

I thought 832 was for cell phones?

[lhafer]

Can't say that 713 is for inside the loop. Texas Children's Hospital is 832. My cell phone is 832. My house in Humble is 281. My husband's cell phone is 713. And his work is 713, and he works in the ship channel.

[EasilyAmused]

Houston's area codes are just like it's zoning, all over the place and makes no sense.

[Malvie]

Dallas area codes are no longer tied geographically either; can be 214, 972, or 469 anywhere. Mostly, though, just like Houston, the old geographic cues hold IF the individual has had their phone for any length of time.

Me, I have a 713 work number, a 281 home number, and an 832 cell. It doesn't really make any difference.

[NoonieJR]

I wont say that it makes a difference.. But 713 if its a landline is always inside the beltway.. But 713 has cell phones too.. 281 landlines are very close or outside of the beltway (like missouri city for example).. And 281 uses cell phones too.. But like someone else said i have seen 832 inside the loop for landlines and outside the loop.. But i think 832 is used mainly for cell phones and some businesses.. I say all of this because i have over 1000 numbers in my cell phone and thats what it seems like to me!

[EasilyAmused]

I'm just outside the Belt and my landline is 713. Of course, I paid to tranfer the number from Briargrove to here.