New 350 area code coming to the 209; here’s what you need to know
The 209 is being split up.
Say hello to the 350.
The California Public Utilities Commission announced Thursday that during the fourth quarter of this year that 350 will be the area code assigned to new phone numbers that previously would have been assigned a 209 area code.
The 209 area code currently is used in San Joaquin County as well as parts of Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Escalon, Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Sacramento, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties.
It is projected that there will be no more available phone numbers by the end of 2022, according to the CPUC. The commission voted Thursday to approve a request by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator for an area code overlay so subsequent new phone numbers created in the 209 area code will have the 350 area code.
Existing phone users with 209 area codes will retain those, and can continue to use three digits to call 911, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 and 811.
A decade ago, a similar overlay was implemented in the South Bay, where dwindling 408 area code numbers prompted the creation of the 669 area code. The 209 area code was introduced in 1958 when it split from 415, one of the original three area codes in California, and the 209 area code itself was split in 1997 to form the 559 area code.
For those in San Joaquin County, it could mean a change of identity as well.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
More information about the 209 area code and the overlay plans can be found at cpuc.ca.gov/209areacode.
This article originally appeared on The Record: 350 area code for new phone numbers coming to 209 area code region
