Frequently Asked Questions
Area code 219 serves Northwest Indiana, including cities like Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, LaPorte, Michigan City, and Valparaiso. It covers Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, and Jasper Counties.
The area code for Gary, Indiana, is 219.
Ten-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit number) became mandatory for area code 219 on October 24, 2021.
The implementation of 10-digit dialing in area code 219 was necessary to accommodate the designation of 988 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and avoid conflicts with existing seven-digit numbers starting with 988.
Major carriers in area code 219 include AT&T, Frontier Communications, and Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company.
Area code 219 offers landline services, wireless communication (mobile phones), and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Area code 219 was established in 1948.
Area code 219 was split in 2002 due to population growth and increasing demand for phone numbers, creating area codes 574 and 260.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) oversees and administers area code 219, as part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
There's no publicly available data on the projected exhaustion date for area code 219. However, NANPA continually monitors usage and implements strategies to ensure efficient number allocation.
The NANP is a system for assigning phone numbers across the United States, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. Area code 219 is part of this system.
Area code 219 covers Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, and Jasper Counties in Northwest Indiana.
Always use 10-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit number), even for local calls within area code 219.
Check with service providers like AT&T, Frontier Communications, or Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company to confirm number availability within area code 219.
Northwest Indiana uses area code 219. This area code covers several counties, including Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, and Jasper, and serves as a geographic identifier within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
Area code 219 includes cities like Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Highland, Hobart, La Porte, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Portage, Schererville, and Valparaiso. These cities are all located in Northwest Indiana.
Always use 10-digit dialing for 219 numbers. Dial the area code (219) followed by the seven-digit phone number. This practice is mandatory since October 24, 2021, to accommodate the 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Area code 219 was established in 1948, initially covering a larger area of northern Indiana. In 2002, it was split to create area codes 574 and 260 due to population growth and increased demand for phone numbers.
Major carriers in area code 219 include AT&T, Frontier Communications, and Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company. They offer a variety of services, including landlines, mobile, and internet options.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) oversees area code 219. The NANPA manages and assigns area codes within the North American Numbering Plan, ensuring efficient number allocation and preventing exhaustion.
Ten-digit dialing (area code + number) became mandatory in 219 on October 24, 2021. This change was implemented to avoid conflicts with the new 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Area code 219 offers a variety of services, including landline services, wireless communication (mobile phones), and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which allows calls over the internet.
The initial framework for the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) was developed by AT&T in 1947, which led to the area code system used today.
Area code 219 was split in 2002, creating area codes 574 and 260. This was done to accommodate the growing demand for phone numbers in northern Indiana.
Publicly available data on the projected exhaustion date for area code 219 is not currently accessible. However, NANPA constantly monitors usage and implements strategies like number pooling to prevent exhaustion.
Northwest Indiana has the second largest economy in Indiana, contributing over $35 billion to the state's economy. This high level of economic activity means continued demand for phone numbers within area code 219.
Area Code 219: Northwest Indiana Phone Numbers & 10-Digit Dialing Guide
Area code 219 serves Northwest Indiana within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). The 219 area code covers the Indiana portion of the Chicago metropolitan area, including Lake County, Porter County, and La Porte County. This guide covers city coverage, mandatory 10-digit dialing requirements, NANPA regulatory updates, and number exhaustion projections for Northwest Indiana.
What is Area Code 219?
Area code 219 serves Northwest Indiana within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). In 1947, AT&T published the first area code configuration for Indiana, with area code 317 covering the northern two-thirds of the state. In 1948, AT&T modified this plan – 317 was reduced to central Indiana, and the northern third received area code 219.1
The numbering plan area covers Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Benton, Pulaski, Starke, and White Counties in Northwest Indiana.2 This region aligns with the Indiana portion of the Chicago metropolitan area.
What Cities and Counties Have Area Code 219?
Area code 219 covers Northwest Indiana's major cities in the region's economic and industrial core.
Major Cities with 219 Area Code
Cities within area code 219 include (ordered by population):
What Phone Services Are Available in Area Code 219?
Multiple telecommunications carriers operate within area code 219, providing residential and business phone services throughout Northwest Indiana.
Major Phone Service Providers
Carriers operating within area code 219:
Available Telecommunications Services
Phone services in the 219 area code:
How Does 10-Digit Dialing Work in Area Code 219?
Why Does Area Code 219 Require 10-Digit Dialing?
What Equipment Requires Reprogramming for 10-Digit Dialing?
When 10-digit dialing became mandatory in area code 219, equipment programmed to complete local calls using only 7-digit numbers required reprogramming:3
Important: Multi-Line Telephone Systems (MLTS) in hotels, office buildings, and other facilities require a prefix (such as "9") before dialing 988. The FCC Order FCC 20-100 declined to require MLTS to allow direct 988 dialing without a prefix.4
What Stays the Same with 10-Digit Dialing?
Area Code 219 History and Timeline
When Will Area Code 219 Run Out of Phone Numbers?
Area code 219 serves Northwest Indiana's population of 1,164,565 (Census 2020).6 As of October 1, 2025, NANPA reports:7
Area Code 219 Number Exhaustion Projections
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), citing NANPA data, projects area code 219 will exhaust in third quarter 2041.8 Northern Indiana area code exhaust projections (as of March 2025):
NANPA publishes exhaust projections semi-annually (April and October) in its NPA Exhaust Analysis reports.9 Number allocation strategies include:
Frequently Asked Questions About Area Code 219
Do I Need to Dial Area Code 219 for Local Calls?
Yes. Since October 24, 2021, all calls within area code 219 require 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number), even for local calls. This change was implemented to accommodate the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
What Counties Are in the 219 Area Code?
Area code 219 covers nine counties in Northwest Indiana: Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Benton, Pulaski, Starke, and White Counties.
Is Area Code 219 Getting a New Overlay?
No overlay is currently planned. Area code 219 has 41.5% of prefixes still unassigned and is not projected to exhaust until third quarter 2041, according to NANPA data from October 2025.
What Time Zone is Area Code 219?
Area code 219 spans two time zones: most of the region observes Central Time (GMT -06:00), while small eastern portions observe Eastern Time (GMT -05:00).
When Was Area Code 219 Created?
Area code 219 was created in 1948 as part of the North American Numbering Plan. It originally covered all of northern Indiana until the 2002 three-way split created area codes 574 and 260.
What Cities Have Area Code 219?
Major cities include Hammond, Gary, Portage, Merrillville, Valparaiso, Michigan City, Hobart, East Chicago, Highland, LaPorte, Schererville, and Munster.
What Happened in the 2002 Area Code 219 Split?
On January 15, 2002, area code 219 was divided into three area codes: Northwest Indiana retained 219, north central Indiana received area code 574, and northeastern Indiana received area code 260.
What Equipment Needs Reprogramming for 10-Digit Dialing?
Any device programmed to dial local calls with only 7 digits requires reprogramming: life safety systems, medical monitors, PBX systems, fax machines, security alarms, speed dialers, mobile contact lists, and voicemail services. Check your business stationery, advertising materials, checks, and contact information to ensure the area code is included.
Best Practices for Using Area Code 219
When using area code 219:
Summary
Area code 219 serves Northwest Indiana as part of the North American Numbering Plan. Established in 1948, it underwent a three-way split in 2002 and transitioned to mandatory 10-digit dialing in 2021 to accommodate the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. With 41.5% of prefixes still unassigned and a projected exhaust date of third quarter 2041, area code 219 maintains adequate capacity for Northwest Indiana's telecommunications needs. 1,000-block number pooling, implemented in Indiana in 2001, has significantly extended the lifespan of the area code by allocating numbers more efficiently.
Footnotes
Wikipedia contributors. "Area code 219." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_219 (accessed October 2025). ↩
USA.com. "219 Area Code." http://www.usa.com/219-area-code.htm (accessed October 2025). ↩
Federal Communications Commission. "988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline." https://www.fcc.gov/988-suicide-and-crisis-lifeline (accessed January 2025). ↩ ↩2 ↩3
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. "10-Digit Dialing for 219 & 574 Area Codes." https://www.in.gov/iurc/home/10-digit-dialing-for-219-and-574-area-codes/ (accessed January 2025). ↩ ↩2
Wikipedia contributors. "Area code 219." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_219 (accessed October 2025). ↩
ZIP-Codes.com. "219 Area Code – Location, Time, Map, Cities and Census Data." https://www.zip-codes.com/area-code/area-code-219.asp (accessed October 2025). ↩
North American Numbering Plan Administrator. NANPA data as of October 1, 2025. ↩
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor. "Indiana Area Codes." https://www.in.gov/oucc/electric/key-cases-by-utility/indiana-area-codes/ (accessed January 2025). ↩ ↩2
North American Numbering Plan Administrator. "NPA Reports." https://www.nanpa.com/reports/npa-reports (accessed October 2025). ↩