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Area code 478
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Area code 478 is a telephone area code serving part of the state of Georgia, in the United States. It covers Macon and central Georgia (Warner Robins, Swainsboro, Wadley, Milledgeville, Hawkinsville, Eastman, Cochran, Dublin, Perry). It was formerly part of area code 912. The new area code, along with area code 229 (for Southwestern Georgia), became effective in 2001 in a 3-way split.
Prior to October 2021, area code 478 had telephone numbers assigned for the central office code 988. In 2020, 988 was designated nationwide as a dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which created a conflict for exchanges that permit seven-digit dialing. This area code was therefore scheduled to transition to ten-digit dialing by October 24, 2021.[1]
Counties served
[edit]Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Burke (part with area codes 706 and 762), Crawford, Dodge (part with area code 229), Dooly (part with area code 229), Emanuel (part with area code 912), Houston, Jefferson (part with area codes 706 and 762), Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski (part with area code 229), Taylor, Twiggs, Upson (part with area codes 706 and 762), Washington, and Wilkinson.
See also
[edit]| North: 706/762, 404/770/678 | ||
| West: 706/762 | Area code 478 | East: 803/839 |
| South: 229, 912 | ||
| South Carolina area codes: 803/839, 843/854, 864/821 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Transition to 10-digit dialing (for 988 as 3-digit access to National Suicide Prevention Hotline)" (PDF). North American Numbering Plan Administrator. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
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Area code 478
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Area code 478 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan serving central Georgia in the United States, covering 23 counties (some partially) and a population of approximately 666,000 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.[1] It primarily encompasses urban centers such as Macon, Warner Robins, Perry, Milledgeville, and Dublin, along with surrounding rural areas in Bibb, Houston, Laurens, and other counties.[2] The region operates in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT-05:00).[3]
Created on August 1, 2000, as the 281st area code introduced in the NANP, 478 resulted from a three-way split of the overburdened area code 912 to address the exhaustion of available telephone numbers in south and central Georgia.[4] This split also produced area code 229 for southwestern Georgia, while retaining 912 for the southeastern portion, ensuring sufficient numbering resources for at least 30 years in the new codes at the time.[2] As of December 31, 2023, the assignment of prefixes in 478 stands at about 51.1% of the possible 800 central office codes, with no overlay area code currently in place.[5]
The area code 478 region is notable for its economic and cultural significance, including major employers like Robins Air Force Base in Houston County, which supports aerospace and defense activities, and the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, driving manufacturing and logistics.[6] It reflects central Georgia's blend of historical sites, educational institutions such as Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, and agricultural heritage, while serving as a key hub for telecommunications in the state.[7]
This service territory spans central Georgia, from the Macon metropolitan area westward and eastward to rural locales near the Oconee River, encompassing diverse administrative and geographic features.[4] The boundaries reflect the 2000 split from area code 912, designed to accommodate growing demand in the region's telephone numbering resources.[26]
History
Creation from area code 912
Area code 912 was established on July 1, 1954[8], as Georgia's second telephone area code, serving the southern and coastal regions of the state after a split from the original statewide area code 404, which had been in place since 1947.[9] Over the following decades, sustained economic expansion and population increases across south Georgia, exacerbated by surging demand for telephone numbers from emerging technologies such as cellular phones and pagers, projected the exhaustion of 912's central office codes by the early 2000s.[2] To relieve this impending shortage and accommodate continued growth in telecommunications infrastructure, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) initiated planning for a major reconfiguration of the 912 service area in the late 1990s.[2] Public hearings were conducted throughout the summer of 1999 in key cities including Savannah, Macon, Valdosta, Albany, and Brunswick to gather input on relief options, ultimately favoring a geographic split over an overlay to preserve distinct regional identities centered around major population hubs.[2] The PSC formally proposed a three-way split of 912, which was approved by a 4-1 vote on September 21, 1999, and subsequently endorsed by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate the necessary new codes.[2] Under this structure, area code 478 was designated for the central Georgia region to address local numbering pressures, while area code 229 covered the southwestern portion; the remaining southeastern territory retained 912, effectively partitioning the overburdened original area into three balanced segments projected to extend usability for 19 to 30 years.[2]Implementation and split details
Area code 478 entered service on August 1, 2000, as a geographic split from the overburdened area code 912 to provide additional numbering resources for central Georgia. The split was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission on September 21, 1999, following public input and projections indicating that the original 912 area code would exhaust its central office codes by the early 2000s.[2] A permissive dialing period ran from August 1, 2000, to July 31, 2001, during which residents and businesses in the affected region could dial local calls using either the 912 or 478 prefix, allowing a gradual transition without immediate disruption.[2] This phase facilitated the reprogramming of telephone equipment and the issuance of new numbers under the 478 prefix to telecommunications providers. Mandatory use of the 478 area code for all local calls in central Georgia began on August 1, 2001, after which dialing 912 for those numbers would no longer connect.[10] The geographic boundaries of the split allocated 478 to central Georgia, encompassing counties such as Bibb, Houston, and Baldwin, while separating it from the southwestern portion assigned to the new 229 area code and the coastal and southern regions that retained 912.[2] Initial central office code assignments under 478 were distributed to telecommunications carriers, prioritizing high-demand exchanges in urban centers such as Macon and Warner Robins to support immediate growth.[2] To mitigate potential transition issues, the Public Service Commission conducted public meetings in summer 1999 and launched notification campaigns starting October 1, 1999, emphasizing the benefits of the split for long-term numbering availability.[2]Service area
Major cities served
Area code 478 primarily serves central Georgia, with Macon as its largest city and a key cultural and economic hub, home to approximately 157,300 residents as of the 2020 U.S. Census who benefit from its role as a transportation and revitalization center attracting business investment.[11][12] Warner Robins, with a population of about 80,300 as of the 2020 U.S. Census (84,500 estimated in 2023), stands out due to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia's largest industrial complex, which supports over 22,000 personnel and bolsters the local economy through defense-related activities.[13][14] Perry functions as an agricultural center and hosts the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter, drawing events that highlight the region's farming heritage, while its population reaches around 20,600 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.[15][16] Milledgeville, with roughly 17,200 inhabitants as of the 2020 U.S. Census, holds historical importance as Georgia's state capital from 1804 to 1868, preserving sites like the Old State Capitol Building that underscore its antebellum legacy.[17][18] Dublin serves as a regional commerce hub, supporting business growth through its chamber of commerce and a population of approximately 16,100 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.[19][20] Smaller cities within the area code, including Swainsboro (population about 7,400 as of the 2020 U.S. Census), Wadley, Hawkinsville, Eastman, and Cochran, sustain local economies via agriculture, manufacturing, and retail trade, contributing to the diverse industrial base of central Georgia.[21][22] All these cities are fully encompassed by area code 478, with no partial overlays or splits affecting their boundaries. The code serves a total population of roughly 768,000 as of the 2020 U.S. Census, and the rapid growth in these urban centers, particularly around Macon and Warner Robins, led to the exhaustion of available numbers in the original area code 912, prompting the 2000 split to meet rising demand.[3][2]Counties served
Area code 478 serves 23 counties in central Georgia, providing telephone service to both urban centers and rural communities across the region.[23] The counties include Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Houston, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Taylor, Twiggs, and Washington, which are fully covered by the area code.[1] Partial coverage extends to Burke, Dodge, Dooly, Emanuel, Jefferson, Pulaski, and Putnam counties, where only specific portions fall within the 478 boundaries due to overlaps with adjacent area codes such as 912 and 229.[24][25]| County | Coverage Type | Details on Partial Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | Full | Entire county |
| Bibb | Full | Entire county |
| Bleckley | Full | Entire county |
| Burke | Partial | Northern portions, shared with 706/762/912 |
| Crawford | Full | Entire county |
| Dodge | Partial | Eastern portions, shared with 229 |
| Dooly | Partial | Northern portions, shared with 229 |
| Emanuel | Partial | Western portions, shared with 912 |
| Houston | Full | Entire county |
| Jefferson | Partial | Western portions, shared with 706/762 |
| Jenkins | Full | Entire county |
| Johnson | Full | Entire county |
| Jones | Full | Entire county |
| Laurens | Full | Entire county |
| Macon | Full | Entire county |
| Monroe | Full | Entire county |
| Peach | Full | Entire county |
| Pulaski | Partial | Northern portions, shared with 912 |
| Putnam | Partial | Eastern portions, shared with 706/762 |
| Taylor | Full | Entire county |
| Twiggs | Full | Entire county |
| Washington | Full | Entire county |
| Wilkinson | Full | Entire county |