Area codes 601 and 769

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Region covered by area codes 601 and 769

Area codes 601 and 769 are the telephone area codes for central Mississippi.

The main area code, 601, was one of the original area codes implemented in 1947, and served all of Mississippi. Despite the state's relatively stagnant population growth, 601 was close to exhaustion by the mid-1990s due to the proliferation of cell phones. Additionally, the Memphis LATA extends for some distance into northern Mississippi, so several numbers in Memphis' area code 901 weren't available for use. In 1997, the far southwestern portion tip of the state, including Biloxi and the Gulf Coast, was split off as area code 228. In 1999, area code 662 was created in the northern half of Mississippi, including the Mississippi side of the Memphis area.

The 1999 split was intended as a long-term solution, but within five years 601 was close to exhaustion due to the proliferation of cell phones, particularly in the Jackson area. In 2005, Mississippi's first overlay area code, 769, was approved for use to overlay 601. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory in central Mississippi later that year.

Cities covered by area code 601/769

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Mississippi area codes: 228, 601, 662, 769
North: 662
West: 318 area codes 601/769 East: 205, 251
South: 225, 228, 985
Alabama area codes: 205, 251, 256, 334, 938
Louisiana area codes: 225, 318, 337, 504, 985