Area code 213
Area code 213 is a California telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan. It contains downtown Los Angeles and its immediate environs. It is an enclave area code, similar to area code 312 in Chicago, area code 514 in Montreal, area codes 385 and 801 in Salt Lake City, area code 210 in San Antonio, Texas and area code 316 in Wichita, Kansas, in that it is completely surrounded by area code 323, which serves most of the rest of central Los Angeles. Geographically speaking, it is one of the smallest area codes in the nation, stretching over only a few square miles.
History
Area code 213 was one of the three original area codes assigned to California in 1947. Initially it covered the southern third of the state from the Central Coast to the Mexican border. The numbering plan area was extended to the north in 1950, merging the southern portion of the Central Valley, including Bakersfield, from area code 415.
As a result of California's rapid expansion during the second half of the 20th century, the plan area 213 was split on numerous occasions. The first area split became necessary in 1951, when most of the southern portion, including Orange County and San Diego, was assigned area code 714. In 1957, 213 was restricted to Los Angeles County, with most of the old 213's western portion becoming area code 805. In 1984, the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley became area code 818—thus making Los Angeles one of the first major cities in the nation to be split between two area codes (along with New York, which was split between 212 and 718 that same year). In 1991, West Los Angeles and the South Bay became area code 310. The 213 area code was reduced to its current size in 1998, when practically all of the old 213 territory outside of downtown became area code 323.
Despite Southern California's continued rapid growth and the proliferation of cell phones and pagers, 213 is not projected to exhaust until 2050. As area code 323 is projected to exhaust by 2017, the California Public Utilities Commission has proposed removing the 213/323 boundary by turning 213 and 323 into overlay area codes for all of central Los Angeles, thus bringing 213 back to areas that had used it for more than half a century prior to 1998. Any available 213 numbers would be assignable in the 323 area and vice versa, and 10/11-digit dialing would be required in both areas.[1][2][3] The Greater Houston area was the first to do so, removing the 281/713 boundary in 1999.
In popular culture
An American hip-hop supergroup from Long Beach, California consisting of Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and Nate Dogg was called 213, based on the area code.
Area code 213 is referenced in Warren G and Nate Dogg's song "Regulate", Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E.", the Electric Six song "I'm the Bomb", LL Cool J's song "Going Back to Cali", Whitney Houston's song "It's Not Right but It's Okay", and Eminem's "Shake That". It is also referenced in "Area Codes" by Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg.
The Los Angeles Clippers mascot, Chuck the Condor, has the jersey number 213.[4]
See also
References
External links
- NANPA Area Code Map of California
- California Public Utilities Commission's "Report on the 213 Area Code
| California area codes: 209, 213, 310/424, 323, 408/669, 415/628, 442/760, 510, 530, 559, 562, 619, 626, 650, 657/714, 661, 707, 747/818, 805, 831, 858, 909, 916, 925, 949, 951 | ||
|---|---|---|
| North: 323 | ||
| West: 323 | area code 213 | East: 323 |
| South: 323 | ||