Reported (617) XXX-XXXX phone numbers lookup

Area Code 617 History and Coverage

Area code 617 was established in 1947 as one of the original area codes within the North American Numbering Plan. At first, it was covering the entire eastern region of Massachusetts. The western part of the commonwealth was covered by the area code 413, and hence there were two original numbering plans in Massachusetts. For many decades, the coverage of 617 has been larger than it is now, including the inner Boston area and the central and southeastern parts of Massachusetts.

The geographic split of 1988 made the 508 area code emerge which made many regions to move out of the 617 area. Some of the regions that came under the 508 area included Worcester County, South Coast, Cape Cod and islands. After the geographic split, the 617 area became much closer to the densely populated metropolitan core of the state.

However, the demand for additional telephone number ranges kept growing along with the population and business of the area. Thus, in 1997, the state decided to perform yet another geographic split of area codes 617 and 508 which led to the creation of 781 (from former 617) and 978 (from former 508). The area of 617 became considerably smaller then before.

In 2001, overlay area code 857 was assigned for the same geographic area instead of the geographical split. Now area codes 617 and 857 serve the urban communities in the area of Boston while 781 serves many of its surrounding suburbs.