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Area code 912
Area code 912
Area code 912
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Area code 912 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. The numbering plan area contains Savannah, Richmond Hill, Hinesville, Vidalia, Metter, Reidsville, Homerville, Waycross, Brunswick, Folkston, Douglas, Statesboro, Ludowici, Jesup and Kingsland. The area code was created in 1954 in an area code split from area code 404, which had been assigned to the entire state in 1947.

In May 2025, the Georgia Public Service Commission announced the future conversion of the NPA into an overlay complex with new area code 565 in relief of anticipated central office code exhaustion by 2028.[1]

History

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In 1947, when the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) divided North America into numbering plan areas (NPAs) for the first nationwide telephone numbering plan, the state of Georgia received only one area code, 404, for the entire state. The city of Atlanta operated one of the eight Regional Centers in the nationwide telephone toll routing system.

On July 1, 1954, the state was divided into two numbering plan areas. The area from Macon southward, including Savannah and Albany, received area code 912. Area code 404 was reduced to the northern half of the state, from the Tennessee and North Carolina borders as far south as Columbus and Augusta.

Despite the presence of Savannah, Albany and Macon, the southern half of Georgia is not nearly as densely populated as the northern half. As a result, 912 remained the sole area code for south Georgia for 46 years. In contrast, north Georgia went from one numbering plan area to three during the 1990s, plus an overlay for the Atlanta area. By the end of the 1990s, 912 was facing exhaustion due to the proliferation of cell phones and pagers, especially in Savannah, Macon, and Albany.

On August 1, 2000, area code 912 was reduced in size in a three-way split to permit more central office codes in the southern half of the state. Savannah and the eastern portion retained 912. The western portion, centered on Albany, was assigned area code 229, while the northern portion, centered on Macon, received area code 478. Permissive dialing of 912 continued across southern Georgia until August 1, 2001.

Prior to October 2021, area code 912 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.[2]

NANPA projections of October 2022 suggested that the coastal Georgia NPA will require exhaustion relief around 2027.[3] An overlay complex with 912 and area code 565 was approved in May 2025.[4][1]

Service area

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Numbering plan area 912 includes the counties of Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Echols (part with area code 229), Effingham, Emanuel (part with area code 478), Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair (part with area code 229), Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Wayne, and Wheeler.

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Area code 912

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Area code 912 is a area code in the (NANP) serving southeastern Georgia, , encompassing major cities such as Savannah, Brunswick, Hinesville, Statesboro, Waycross, and Pooler. Established on July 1, 1954, as one of the original area codes created in a split from —which had served the entire state of Georgia since 1947—912 initially covered most of southern Georgia to accommodate growing demand. On August 1, 2000, due to central office code exhaustion, the 912 numbering plan area underwent a three-way split, with the central portion becoming and the southwestern portion becoming , leaving 912 to serve the remaining southeastern coastal and rural regions. The region operates in the , and all calls within the area code are local, requiring 10-digit dialing for local calls since October 2021, in line with NANP updates for the lifeline. In June 2025, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved an overlay plan to address projected exhaustion of available numbers in 912 by 2028, introducing area code 565 as an all-services overlay beginning in early 2028; existing 912 numbers will not change, but new assignments will use 565, and 10-digit dialing will remain mandatory for all local calls in the region. This development reflects ongoing efforts to manage the finite pool of NANP numbers amid and telecommunications expansion in Georgia's coastal areas.

Service Area

Major Cities

The area code 912 serves several key urban centers in southeastern Georgia, where population sizes and economic activities influence local infrastructure and usage patterns. These cities, with their diverse roles in ports, , , and , generate significant call volumes tied to operations, , and daily communications. Savannah, the largest city in the 912 area code with a of 147,780, functions as a major hub and destination, driving high mobile and business demand through international shipping and visitor interactions. Brunswick, a coastal city with approximately 15,210 residents in , serves as a critical shipping port specializing in automobiles and , supporting elevated needs for trade coordination and port operations. Hinesville, home to about 34,891 people in 2020 and located near the base, relies on defense-related activities that necessitate robust communication networks for military personnel and support services. Statesboro, with a 2020 population of 33,438, is a university town anchored by , fostering telecommunications demand through academic collaborations, student communications, and regional economic contributions exceeding $1.16 billion annually. Waycross, a rail and timber center with 13,942 residents in 2020, supports transportation and forestry industries that require reliable phone services for logistics and . Vidalia, known for its agricultural output with a 2020 population of 10,785, centers on production, which generates around $150 million yearly and boosts local telecommunications for farming coordination and market distribution. Pooler, a rapidly growing city in Chatham County with a 2020 population of 25,711, serves as home to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and supports and distribution industries, contributing to increased needs for aviation and commerce.

Counties and Regions

Area code 912 serves 32 counties in southeastern Georgia: Appling, Atkinson, , Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, , Dodge, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, , Long, McIntosh, Montgomery, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilkes. These counties span diverse sub-regions within the state's southeastern expanse, including the characterized by the delta and marshlands in counties like Chatham and Bryan, the unique ecosystem of the primarily in Ware and Clinch counties, and the pine belt forests in more central counties such as and Jeff Davis. The features low-lying terrain with rivers and estuaries supporting maritime forests and barrier islands, while the Okefenokee area consists of vast blackwater swamps and prairies known for their , and the pine belt includes sandy soils dominated by ecosystems used historically for timber production. The service area's boundaries are defined as follows: the northern limit aligns roughly with the I-16 corridor running westward from Savannah, the southern boundary reaches the state line along the Okefenokee , the western edge abuts the service area of code 229 near the and Bacon County, and the eastern perimeter extends to the Atlantic Ocean coastline encompassing Glynn and Camden counties. Encompassing approximately 15,000 square miles, the 912 area code predominantly overlays Georgia's physiographic province, which is marked by flat to gently rolling terrain, sedimentary soils, and a subtropical influencing , , and coastal development across the .

History

Establishment in 1954

The (NANP), established in 1947 by the (AT&T) for the , initially assigned to the entire state of Georgia when began in 1951. Post-World War II economic expansion and population growth in Georgia rapidly increased telephone demand, straining the single statewide code and necessitating the first split to provide additional numbering capacity. Area code 912 was introduced on July 1, 1954 as a relief to 404, covering the southern portion of Georgia south of Macon. The assignment was managed by AT&T's Long Lines department and approved by the (FCC), which oversaw NANP implementation to ensure efficient telecommunications across the . The initial service area included key coastal and central southern regions, with the first central office codes activated in major exchanges such as those serving Savannah and Brunswick to support local and in the growing economy. This split marked one of the early adjustments to the NANP to address regional demand disparities, preserving 404 for northern Georgia including .

2000 Split with 229

By the late 1990s, area code 912, which covered much of southern Georgia, was approaching exhaustion due to surging demand for telephone numbers driven by population growth, economic expansion, wireless services, and fax machines, with projections indicating full depletion by the third quarter of 2001. In response, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) notified the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) of the impending crisis on June 12, 1998, prompting planning for relief measures. The PSC held public meetings across the region in August 1999 and conducted a formal hearing on September 1, 1999, ultimately approving a three-way geographic split by a 4-1 vote on September 21, 1999, with the formal order issued on October 1, 1999; this followed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorization for the two new area codes earlier that year. The split took effect on August 1, 2000, with assigned to the southwestern counties, encompassing key areas like Albany and Valdosta, while covered the central portion around Macon, and the original 912 was retained for the southeastern region centered on Savannah. This reconfiguration significantly reduced the footprint of 912, shrinking its land area by about 40% compared to its pre-split boundaries. Implementation featured a one-year permissive dialing , allowing both 7-digit and 10-digit local calls until mandatory 10-digit dialing began on August 1, 2001, to minimize disruption during the transition. The change impacted over 1 million access lines across southern Georgia, involving number reassignments for customers in the new 229 and 478 zones but preserving local 7-digit dialing within each preserved area; unlike an overlay, it was a straightforward geographic division without overlapping codes. Overall, the split extended the usability of the remaining 912 area code by approximately 20 years, staving off further needs until projections for exhaustion resurfaced in the .

Overlays and Future Relief

Current Single-Code Status

Area code 912 operates as the sole numbering plan area (NPA) in southeastern Georgia, with no overlays in place as of 2025, meaning all telephone numbers in the region are issued under 912 until its projected exhaustion in the second quarter of 2028. Mandatory 10-digit dialing for all local calls within the 912 region has been required since October 24, 2021, to accommodate the national 988 Lifeline and ensure efficient number routing; prior to this, local calls could be dialed using seven digits following the 2000 split that created area code 229. For long-distance calls to or from the 912 area, the standard 1 + 10-digit format is used. The area code serves a population of approximately 1.1 million, with over 1.4 million assigned wireless numbers as of December 31, 2023, plus additional wireline assignments, based on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data. Wireless usage dominates, with mobile penetration exceeding 70% of the population, driven by the presence of major military installations such as Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, as well as tourism hubs like Savannah and the Golden Isles that support transient populations and high device connectivity. According to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data as of December 31, 2023, the 912 NPA has a utilization rate of 54.8%, with 1,448,000 assigned wireless numbers and additional wireline assignments contributing to overall resource allocation. The entire 912 service area falls within the (UTC-5 standard time, UTC-4 during daylight saving time), aligning with the broader time zone coverage for Georgia east of the . Primary carriers include Southeast for wireline and mobility services, Verizon Wireless for cellular coverage, and various regional providers such as Windstream and , all regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission to ensure compliance with state utility standards.

Introduction of 565 Overlay

The introduction of area code 565 as an overlay for the existing 912 area code was announced on June 10, 2025, by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) in coordination with the Administration (). This measure addresses the projected exhaustion of available telephone numbers in the 912 numbering plan area (NPA), expected to occur by the second quarter of 2028. The depletion stems from sustained in southeastern Georgia—such as the 11.3% increase in Chatham County from 265,128 residents in 2010 to 295,291 in 2020—and rising demand for phone numbers driven by expanding telecommunications needs, including mobile devices and connected technologies. The 565 overlay will serve the identical geographic territory as 912, encompassing 30 counties in southeastern Georgia, including major urban centers like Savannah, Brunswick, and Statesboro, as well as rural areas. Unlike a split, which would realign boundaries, this all-area overlay preserves the current service footprint without requiring existing 912 customers to change their numbers. New numbers issued after the overlay's activation will be assigned the 565 prefix, while all current 912 assignments remain unaffected, ensuring continuity for residents and businesses. The code 565 was selected for its clear distinguishability from 912, minimizing potential dialing errors. Implementation is slated for early 2028, aligning with industry guidelines that recommend introducing an overlay at least six months prior to exhaustion to avoid disruptions. Preparatory efforts, including reinforced public education on 10-digit local dialing—already mandatory in the 912 region since the 2000 split—will ramp up in advance, potentially beginning in 2026 through PSC-led awareness campaigns. This approach is projected to provide sufficient numbering resources for approximately 24 years, averting immediate future shortages. The overlay will necessitate ongoing use of 10-digit dialing for all local calls within the region to accommodate both codes, a practice already in place but likely to be emphasized further. Residents and organizations may encounter minor challenges, such as updating directories, signage, and automated systems to reflect dual codes, potentially leading to temporary confusion in listings or contacts. No mandatory number changes are required, distinguishing this from past relief efforts like the 2000 split that created area code 229.

References

  1. https://www.allareacodes.com/912
  2. https://zipcode.org/areacode/912
  3. https://www.wtoc.com/2025/06/10/residents-912-will-soon-be-seeing-second-area-code-says-georgia-public-service-commission/
  4. http://atlantatelephonehistory.org/atlanta:georgia
  5. http://www.psc.state.ga.us/newsinfo/releases/1999/092199.pdf
  6. https://psc.ga.gov/site/assets/files/8828/media_advisory_565_area_code.pdf
  7. https://www.wsbradio.com/news/local/new-area-codes-coming-southeastern-georgia/ZNOVJX7WJZCMFL2UDDXMPQBWKM/
  8. https://thecurrentga.org/2025/06/10/new-area-code-coming-to-southeastern-georgia/
  9. https://www.zip-codes.com/area-code/area-code-912.asp
  10. https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/reapportionment-document-library/2020-census-count-by-city-population.pdf?sfvrsn=274928ba_2
  11. https://gaports.com/press-releases/georgia-ports-economic-impact-jumps-7-in-2024/
  12. https://www.savannahchamber.com/economic-development/the-ports/
  13. https://gaports.com/press-releases/brunswick-now-the-nations-top-port-for-autos-heavy-equipment/
  14. https://www.georgiatrend.com/2022/08/29/economy-hinesvilles-quick-recovery/
  15. https://www.savannahchamber.com/economic-development/military/
  16. https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/georgia-southern-economic-impact-hits-record-116-billion/
  17. https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/research
  18. https://sgamag.com/index.php/2020/09/08/ware-county-riding-the-rails-of-success/
  19. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/vidalia-onions/
  20. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2025/04/18/what-is-it-that-makes-the-vidalia-onion-so-special/83127892007/
  21. https://www.savannahairport.com/about/
  22. https://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/area-codes/georgia/912.html
  23. https://www.sent.dm/resources/area-code-404
  24. https://www.fcc.gov/north-american-numbering-plan-general-management-and-oversight
  25. https://psc.ga.gov/site/downloads/annual_reports/1999_GAPSC_Annual_Report.pdf
  26. https://www.wjcl.com/article/southeast-georgia-565-area-code/65023013
  27. https://planters.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Customer_education_988_10D_dialing_mandatory-GA-912-3.10.2021.pdf
  28. https://www.wjcl.com/article/mandatory-10-digit-dialing-set-to-begin-in-georgia/36057094
  29. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-408489A1.pdf
  30. https://zipatlas.com/us/area-code-912.htm
  31. https://www.letsdial.com/blog/912-area-code/
  32. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/state/2025/06/10/as-new-numbers-exhaust-912-combinations-new-area-code-will-be-used/84131737007/
  33. https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2021/08/12/new-census-data-2021-georgia-chatham-bryan-effingham-county-population-growth-double-digits/8112323002/
  34. https://www.zipdatamaps.com/area-code-912
  35. https://www.walb.com/2025/06/10/three-new-numbers-georgia-plans-install-11th-area-code/
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