Area code 312

Area code 312 encompasses the Chicago Loop and surrounding areas of the city of Chicago, Illinois. It is roughly bounded by North Avenue on the north, Ashland Avenue on the west, Lake Michigan on the east, and 31st Street on the south. By size, it is one of the smallest area codes in the nation, encompassing only a few square miles.

History

Area code 312 was one of the original 86 area codes created in 1947, then called "Numbering Plan Areas". With the rotary dialing technology available at the time, care was given to keep the number of "clicks" to a minimum for large cities, hence Chicago being assigned a code with only six clicks.

The first production #4ESS toll switch was installed in January 1976.^[1]

Area-code split

Until 1989, 312 included most of the Chicago metropolitan area; at that time, the suburbs became area code 708. In 1996, most of the city split off into 773, after the northern suburbs and far-western suburbs split into area codes 847 and 630 respectively, while the southern and near-western suburbs kept 708.^[2] New area code 872 was instituted as an overlay of 312 and 773 on November 7, 2009.^[3]

In popular culture

• Goose Island Brewery brews an ale named "312 Urban Wheat Ale".^[4]
• A restaurant at the Kimpton Hotels operated Hotel Allegro, at LaSalle and Randolph Streets in the Loop, is named "312 Chicago".^[5]
• When 312 covered the entire city, city residents would derisively call suburbanites "708ers" in reference to their area code.^{[citation needed]}
• The Chicago-based Christian rock group Resurrection Band released a song called "Area 312" on their 1982 album D.M.Z.^[6]

See also

• List of Illinois area codes
• List of North American Numbering Plan area codes

References

1. ^ Telephone World
2. ^ "AT&T Area Code History: Illinois". AT&T. 2009. http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=1717. Retrieved 19 August 2009. 
3. ^ Williams, Tera (7 November 2009). "Chicago's New Area Code 872 Connects Today". Fox Chicago News. http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/Chicago_cell_phone_users_must_dial_872_new_area_code_october_7_2009. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
4. ^ "312 Urban Wheat". Goose Island Brewery. 2009. http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/312_urban_wheat/16.php. Retrieved 19 August 2009. 
5. ^ "Dining-Hotel Allegro". Hotel Allegro. 2009. http://www.allegrochicago.com/alleg_ser_dining.html. Retrieved 19 August 2009. 
6. ^ Area 312 at Allmusic

External links

• Map of Illinois area codes at North American Numbering Plan Administration's website
• List of exchanges from AreaCodeDownload.com, 312 Area Code

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