Area Code 386 - History

History

Once the area became too large to be served by one area code, The Daytona Beach/Halifax Area Chamber of Commerce discovered that area code 386 was not assigned to any other territory. The numbers 386 spell out "FUN" on a phone keypad, and was a perfect device to promote the Fun Coast area. Other government officials and residents were recruited to lobby the State Public Service Commission to obtain this area code for the area.

Area code 386, which was put into service in July 2001, is one of a few examples of how rapid population growth (and explosive growth in unexpected areas) coupled with an increase in auxiliary devices (such as cell phones and pagers) has led to some unusual, unorthodox, and often controversial solutions to dividing up "full" Area codes.

When the current Area code system was implemented in 1947, the entire state was in Area code 305. In 1953, the southwestern part of the state became area code 813, while 305 continued to serve the rest of the state. In 1965, the old 305 territory north of Orlando and the Space Coast was given area code 904. There remained three area codes in Florida until the mid-1980s, when Florida's explosive growth forced further divisions.

In 1997, the old 904 area code was split three ways. Most of the Panhandle was split off to become Area code 850, Gainesville and the Nature Coast became area code 352 while Jacksonville and Daytona Beach remained in 904. This was believed to be a long term solution until the advent of cell phones, pagers, and other auxiliary devices caused the 904 area code to come close to exhaustion within only four years' time. This development, along with the rapid growth of both Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, made it obvious that the two cities would need to be in separate Area codes. However, when plans were being drawn up for the split, it was discovered that the northwestern portion of the old 904 area code was too large to stay in 904, even though it was not growing as fast as the areas closer to Jacksonville. While this northwest portion of 904 was not nearly large enough for its own area code, the two area codes nearest to 904, 850 and 352, were growing too quickly to absorb this portion of 904. This left only three viable solutions - split the Jacksonville metro area, overlay 904 with a second code, or make two non-contiguous sections of a new Area code. The Florida Public Service Commission, the body who oversees Area code development in Florida, opted for the third solution, and these two non-contiguous sections became area code 386. There were some on the commission who see the odd split in Area code 386 as a temporary measure, but it is believed that area code 386 will retain its odd situation until well beyond 2030. Despite the rapid growth of the Daytona Beach area, it is nowhere near exhausting.

When area code 386 was formed, DeBary and Deltona, which had been in 407, was switched from 407 to 386. In the interim permissive dialing period for DeBary, it was reachable in area codes 407 and 386 but never in area code 904.