Why Kentucky Is Getting a New Area Code and When It Might Happen

I'm old enough to remember when 502 was the area code for all of Western Kentucky. Area codes were introduced to the nation in 1947, and 502 covered the entire Commonwealth.

Kentucky's New Area Code?

In 1999, 270 was introduced as our new area code for these parts, relegating 502 to the north-central portion of the state with Louisville and Frankfort as the two biggest cities within the code's region. In 2000, 859 was introduced to cover central Kentucky, including Lexington. 606 has been the eastern Kentucky area code since 1954. There's also a 364 overlay, meaning it's an area code that shares the same geography as another. In this case, that's 270. By the way, Bowling Green is 364's largest city.

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But guess what? (And I'm learning a great deal about area codes and telephone numbers via this assignment.) Area codes can get "full." And 502 seems to be "pushing itself away from the table." That's right, Kentucky's oldest area code is running out of numbers, necessitating the possibility of a new area code in the Bluegrass State. Before you start wondering if a change to your area code is imminent, understand that this number "exhaustion" isn't expected to be complete until the summer of 2027.

How Area Codes Are Assigned

I told you I'm getting an education researching this story; I had no idea there was a North American Numbering Plan Administrator that assigns area codes. But last October, NANPA Vice President Florence Weber made it official with the following letter of application.

Yes, it's an application, but 502's numbers are up, so to speak, come 2027, and there will be a new area code more than likely. How that region, with respect to the new code, is determined remains to be seen.