Numbering plan area of area code 413 (red)

Massachusetts numbering plan areas and area codes

Area code 413 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the western third of Massachusetts. It is the largest numbering plan area in the Commonwealth, and extends from the New York state line eastward into Worcester County (only the towns of Hardwick and Warren), while excluding the Franklin County towns of Orange, New Salem, Warwick, and Wendell, which use the overlay of area codes 978 and 351. The most-populous city of area code 413 is Springfield. 413 also includes Great Barrington, Greenfield, North Adams, Northampton and Pittsfield. The 413 numbering plan area constitues local access and transport area (LATA) 126.

History

When the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) published the first nationwide telephone numbering plan for Operator Toll Dialing in 1947, Massachusetts was divided into two numbering plan areas (NPAs), the only state in New England to be split between multiple NPAs. The western part of the state received area code 413, while the eastern two-thirds (including Boston and Worcester) were assigned 617. The dividing line between the two NPAs ran through far western Worcester County. Everything west of the tributary exchange areas of the control switching points in Orange, Petersham, Barre, Oakham, North Brookfield, Sturbridge, and Southbridge comprised the 413 NPA, so that the border between the two NPAs was formed by the eastern borders of the 413 exchange areas of Northfield, Millers Falls, Montaque, Amherst, Hardwick, Belchertown, Ware, Warren, and Brimfield.^[1]

As western Massachusetts is not as densely populated as the eastern portion, 413 remained the region's sole area code even as the eastern portion of the state went from one area code to four from 1988 to 1997. As a result, 413 still maintains its original boundaries. It is also one of the few original area codes, not counting those that cover an entire state, that has not been split or overlaid.

Despite the proliferation of telecommunication services, particularly in and around Springfield, central office codes in 413 are not threatened with exhaustion until 2041, per 2021 projections by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, ^[2]

In a preliminary version of the numbering plan of c. 1946, area code 413 had been allotted for use in Pennsylvania.^[3]

Service area

See also

• List of area codes in Massachusetts
• List of North American Numbering Plan area codes

References

External links

• NANPA area code map of Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Area Code Map, Mass. Department of Telecommunications and Cable