Hubbry Logo
Area code 660Area code 660Main
Open search
Area code 660
Community hub
Area code 660
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Area code 660
Area code 660
Area code 660
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
Area codes of Missouri

Area code 660 is the telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the northern and western part of the U.S. state of Missouri. It surrounds the numbering plan area 816, from which it was split on October 12, 1997.

History

[edit]

When the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) created a universal North American telephone numbering plan for Operator Toll Dialing in 1947, Missouri was divided into two numbering plan areas. Area code 816 served points generally north and west of Columbia and Jefferson City, while area code 314 served the eastern third of the state, including St. Louis. In 1951, a third NPA with area code 417 was created for southwestern Missouri. This reduced 816 to the northern third of Missouri, including the Kansas City metropolitan area.

By late 1996, the proliferation of cell phones and market reforms related to deregulation by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 required an additional area code for northern Missouri. On April 10, 1997, Southwestern Bell declared a Jeopardy Situation with the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC), which oversees telecommunications in the state, and the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA).[1] On July 28, 1997, the NANPA (Bellcore) announced an area code split, in which the Kansas City metropolitan area and the St. Joseph area would retain area code 816, while the remainder of the NPA would receive the new area code 660.[2] Area code 660 comprised the rural eastern and northwestern portions of the then-current 816 area to minimize disruption to subscribers in the more densely populated urban areas.[3] The rate centers of Lexington (259) and Warrensburg (429) moved to 660, despite being generally considered a part of the Kansas City area.

On June 4, 1997, the MPSC announced the split for October 12, 1997, when a permissive dialing period would commenced, until April 19, 1998, during which long-distance calls to the 660 territory could be completed using either 816 or 660.[4]

Prior to October 2021, area code 660 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.[5]

Area code 660 is one of the most thinly populated area codes in the nation, and is therefore nowhere near exhaustion. As of September 2022, the projected exhaust date for 660 is the third quarter of 2043, which has been extended from a previous estimate of 2040.[6]

Service area

[edit]

Major cities

[edit]

Other towns

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Area code 660

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Area code 660 is a area code within the (NANP) that serves the northern and western portions of the U.S. state of .
It was introduced on October 12, 1997, as a split from the established area code 816 to address growing demand for telephone numbers in the region.
The area code encompasses 42 counties and approximately 206 cities, including major population centers such as Sedalia, Warrensburg, Kirksville, Marshall, and Moberly.
It operates in the and remains the sole area code for its service territory, with no overlays in place.
The region served by 660 includes a mix of rural communities and small urban areas, supporting local for over 668,000 residents as of recent estimates.

History

Creation

Area code 660 was established as a geographic split from area code 816 to prevent the exhaustion of telephone numbers in the latter, which was projected to occur by 1999. In April 1997, the Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved the creation of the new code to serve the outstate, rural regions of the existing 816 territory, following a jeopardy declaration by earlier that month indicating imminent depletion of central office codes. The need for this relief stemmed from surging demand for telephone numbers, fueled by the rapid adoption of cellular phones and pagers, as well as the broader impacts of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This legislation deregulated the industry, enabling competitive local exchange carriers to enter the market and assign their own blocks of numbers, which accelerated number consumption across the . The Administration () formally announced the split on July 28, 1997, assigning 660 to the northern and western portions outside the core urban areas of Kansas City and St. Joseph, which retained 816. The new code went into service on October 12, 1997, beginning a permissive dialing period that lasted until April 19, 1998; during this transition, callers could use either seven- or for local calls within the affected regions.

Dialing Transitions

Upon the creation of area code 660 on October 12, 1997, as a split from the existing 816 area code, a permissive dialing period was implemented to ease the transition for callers in the affected northern and central regions. During this six-month period, local calls within the split territory could be completed using either or the full ten-digit format, including the area code, allowing time for consumers, businesses, and providers to adjust equipment and practices. This approach aligned with standard (NANP) procedures for area code splits, which typically include a permissive phase to minimize disruptions while ensuring compatibility with evolving telephone switching systems. The permissive period ended on April 19, 1998, at which point mandatory was required for all local calls originating or terminating within the 660 service area to distinguish between the overlaid regions of the former 816 territory. This change necessitated updates to dialing instructions in phone directories, automated systems, and public awareness campaigns coordinated by the Commission (PSC) and local carriers, ensuring that seven-digit local calls would no longer connect and preventing misrouting between the 660 and 816 areas. The transition reflected broader NANP efforts in the late to accommodate growing demand for telephone numbers amid the expansion of wireless and data services, without altering the underlying numbering resources. More than two decades later, area code 660 was impacted by a nationwide NANP update to facilitate the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, designated by the (FCC) in 2020 as a three-digit abbreviated code for support. To avoid conflicts with existing 988 prefixes in certain area codes, including those in , the FCC mandated for all local calls across affected regions, with implementation required by October 24, 2021. In the 660 area, this meant dialing the full area code plus seven-digit number for intra-local calls, a shift that built on the prior 1998 practices but extended them universally within the NANP footprint. The 2021 transition had specific implications for 660 users: users access the lifeline by dialing 988 directly, and the mandatory ten-digit local dialing ensures that 988 routes to the without conflicting with existing local 988-XXXX numbers, while no modifications were made to the 660 area code itself or to long-distance dialing procedures. Telecommunications carriers in , under PSC oversight, launched consumer education initiatives, including mailings, website updates, and recorded announcements, to inform residents and businesses of the change and prevent service interruptions starting on the effective date. This update exemplified the NANP's ongoing adaptation to integrate short-code emergency services while preserving the ten-digit structure established decades earlier.

Service Area

Major Cities

Area code 660 serves several key urban centers in north-central , which function as regional hubs for education, healthcare, and commerce. These cities, each with populations exceeding 13,000 residents as of 2024 estimates, anchor the economic and cultural landscape of the area code's territory. Sedalia, located at approximately 38.7045°N, 93.2283°W, is the largest city fully within area code 660, with a 2024 population of 21,860. As the of Pettis County, it serves as an agricultural and hub, supporting industries such as retail trade, farming, construction, and food services, while also hosting the annual State Fair that draws regional visitors. Warrensburg, situated at roughly 38.7628°N, 93.7361°W, has a 2024 population of 20,939 and acts as the of Johnson County. It is a prominent educational center, home to the , which drives the local economy through educational services employing over 3,000 people and supports advanced and distribution sectors. Kirksville, at coordinates around 40.1948°N, 92.5832°W, is the of Adair County with a 2024 population of 17,347. It functions as a regional healthcare and hub in northeast , anchored by and the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, alongside Northeast Regional Medical Center, contributing to a diverse economy that includes and . Marshall, positioned at about 39.1161°N, 93.1978°W, holds a 2024 population of 13,974 and serves as the of Saline County. Known for , it emphasizes and healthcare as primary economic drivers, with over 1,200 jobs in manufacturing and significant employment in health services, fostering commerce in this agricultural region.

Other Communities and Counties

Area code 660 encompasses a wide array of smaller communities and extensive rural territories in northern and western , beyond its major urban centers. These areas are characterized by low and a strong emphasis on , including crop farming, , and related industries that dominate the local . The region, spanning predominantly agricultural landscapes, had a total estimated of 668,407 as of the 2020 U.S. Census, with projections indicating relative stability through 2025 due to gradual rural depopulation trends offset by minor urban growth in outlying towns. Among the notable smaller communities served by the area code is Moberly in Randolph County, a hub for rail transportation and manufacturing with a 2020 population of 13,783; its industrial park is rail-served and supports heavy industry operations. in Henry County, with about 9,174 residents in 2020, serves as a focused on local commerce and services. Lexington in Lafayette County, home to roughly 4,652 people in 2020, is renowned for its historical significance as the site of the Battle of Lexington during the Civil War in 1861, featuring preserved battlefield markers and the Anderson House observatory. Other representative towns include Boonville in Cooper County (population 7,964 in 2020), a riverside community along the with historic districts; Fayette in Howard County (population 2,795 in 2020), known for educational institutions; and Macon in Macon County (population 5,457 in 2020), an agricultural trade center. The service area of area code 660 covers 42 counties, some partially, as defined by the Missouri Public Service Commission boundaries; it excludes the core Kansas City metropolitan area served by 816 and central portions of Columbia in Boone County under 573. The full list of counties includes Adair, Andrew (partial), Atchison, Bates (partial), Benton, Boone (partial), Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cooper, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Howard, Jackson (partial), Johnson, Knox, Lafayette, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion (partial), Mercer, Miller (partial), Moniteau, Monroe, Nodaway, Pettis, Putnam, Ralls (partial), Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan. This extensive rural footprint underscores the area code's role in connecting dispersed farming communities and small-town economies across the state.

Numbering Details

Prefix Assignments

The (NANP) structures telephone numbers in area code 660 as a ten-digit format: the three-digit area code 660, followed by a three-digit central office code (NXX), and a four-digit . The first digit of the NXX (N) ranges from 2 to 9, while the second and third digits (X) can be 0 to 9, allowing for 800 possible NXX codes in total, though not all are assigned or active. As of 2025, approximately 500 central office codes are actively assigned within area code 660, allocated to specific rate centers corresponding to communities across northern and central . Assignments are managed by carriers and distributed based on demand in designated serving areas, with examples including 660-248 serving Sedalia, 660-429 serving Warrensburg, 660-665 serving Kirksville, and 660-886 serving Marshall. The allocation and oversight of these prefixes fall under the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), which coordinates nationwide numbering resources, in collaboration with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), the state regulatory body responsible for approving local service assignments and ensuring compliance with NANP guidelines. Prefix usage exhibits higher density in urban rate centers like Sedalia and Warrensburg, where multiple codes support substantial populations and business lines, while rural assignments often cover broader areas encompassing several small towns, such as those in northern counties served by codes like 660-665 in the Kirksville region.

Exhaust Projections and Future Plans

The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) projects that area code 660 will exhaust its central office codes in the third quarter of 2048, as detailed in the October 2025 NRUF and NPA Exhaust Analysis report. This forecast marks a substantial advancement from the prior estimate of first quarter 2057 in the April 2025 analysis, driven by higher-than-anticipated historical and projected demand for numbering resources in the region. The projection assumes continued implementation of standard conservation practices across the (NANP). Area code 660 supports approximately 7.9 million possible telephone numbers, derived from 792 assignable central office codes, each accommodating subscriber numbers. As of December 2023, overall utilization remains low at 21.4%. This modest usage aligns with the area's slow and stable demographics, with no significant increases projected through 2025. The rural character of the region limits demand pressures from technologies like deployment and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which have accelerated exhaustion in denser urban codes; consequently, no shortages are anticipated in the near term. The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) continuously monitors numbering resource usage within area code 660 as part of its oversight responsibilities. No relief measures such as overlays or geographic splits are planned at present, owing to the extended exhaust timeline. Instead, reliance is placed on established number conservation strategies, including thousands-block —where unassigned blocks of numbers are reclaimed and reassigned—and mandatory thousands-block number pooling, which redistributes unused resources among carriers to optimize availability. These federal mandates, administered through the FCC and , have contributed to projection adjustments for 660. Nationally, area code 660 exemplifies low-demand rural codes within the NANP, where exhaust projections often span decades, in stark contrast to high-density urban codes like 212, which has required multiple overlays (including 646, 332, and 917) to address rapid depletion driven by and technological adoption. This disparity underscores broader trends in NANP , with rural areas benefiting from inherent conservation buffers while urban regions necessitate proactive interventions.

References

  1. https://www.allareacodes.com/660
  2. https://www.zip-codes.com/area-code/area-code-660.asp
  3. https://24timezones.com/660/area-code
  4. https://www.sent.dm/resources/understanding-area-code-660
  5. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-107hhrg80681/html/CHRG-107hhrg80681.htm
  6. https://www.nanpa.com/sites/default/files/2024-10/AreaCodeReliefPlanningFAQs_0.pdf
  7. https://psc.mo.gov/CMSInternetData/PSConnection/history.pdf
  8. http://www.aboutareacode.com/816.htm
  9. https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/10-Digit-Mandatory-Dialing-Details.pdf
  10. https://psc.mo.gov/CMSInternetData/ConsumerInformation/988.pdf
  11. https://mcdc.missouri.edu/population-estimates/
  12. https://www.latlong.net/place/sedalia-mo-usa-4394.html
  13. https://www.sedalia.com/connect/departments/community-development/
  14. https://latitude.to/map/us/united-states/cities/warrensburg-missouri
  15. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/warrensburg-mo
  16. https://www.coordinatesfinder.com/coordinates/7872-kirksville-missouri
  17. https://ktvo.com/news/local/modest-growth-in-adair-county-offers-new-hope-for-economy-and-future-opportunities
  18. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/marshall-mo
  19. https://mostateparks.com/historic-site/battle-lexington-state-historic-site
  20. https://missouripartnership.com/missouri-certified-site-moberly-area-industrial-park/
  21. https://www.areacodelocations.info/6/660.html
  22. https://www.wirefly.com/area-codes/660
  23. https://localcallingguide.com/lca_prefix.php?npa=660
  24. https://psc.mo.gov/Telecommunications/Telephone_NumbersLocal_Dialing
  25. https://www.nanpa.com/sites/default/files/2025-10/2025-2NPAExhaustProjectionsFinal.pdf
  26. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-408489A1.pdf
  27. https://www.nanpa.com/about-us/what-we-do/exhaust-projections
  28. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-00-1616A1.pdf
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
Contribute something
User Avatar
No comments yet.