Greater Cleveland - Area Codes

Area Codes

In the 1950s, AT&T assigned Northeast Ohio the 216 area code, and in 1996, Northeast Ohio was divided into two area codes. Area code 216 was reduced in size to cover the northern half of its prior area, centering on Cleveland and its lake shore suburbs. Area code 330 was introduced for remaining outlying areas formerly covered by area code 216, including Akron, Brunswick, Canton, Medina, Warren and Youngstown.

In 1997, area code 216 was further split as the need for additional phone numbers grew. Area code 216 was again reduced in geographical area to cover the city of Cleveland and its inner ring suburbs. Area code 440 was introduced to cover the remainder of was what previously area code 216, including the communities of Mentor, Elyria, Painesville, North Ridgeville, Strongsville, Brecksville, Lorain, Westlake, and other Greater Cleveland communities. Although 216 numbers can still be assigned to communities within the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area. Some communities, such as Parma, and Parma Heights were divided into multiple area codes. In 1999, Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced federal legislation to protect small and medium-sized cities from being split into two or more area codes.

In 2000, it was anticipated that the available phone numbers in area code 330 would be exhausted, and an overlay area code was introduced. Area code 234 was assigned to overlap existing area code 330. With the creation of area code 234, any new phone number in the geographical area formerly covered by area code 330 could be assigned a phone number in either the 234 or 330 area codes, with no change in local or long distance toll status. This made necessary the use of ten-digit dialing within the 330/234 area code region. After the introduction of area code 234, assignments of new telephone numbers in the area did not continue at an accelerated pace, and new phone numbers for area code 234 were not assigned until 2003.