Louisiana Area Codes

Louisiana has 5 active area codes. That might seem like a lot, but it makes sense when you think about it - the more people living in a state, the more phone numbers are needed. Each area code can only handle so many phone numbers before it runs out.

The first area code in Louisiana was created back in 1947. That was when the phone company was setting up the area code system across the whole country. At that time, one or two area codes was usually enough for most states. But as the population grew and everyone started carrying cell phones, more area codes were needed.

All the area codes in Louisiana are in the same time zone: Central Time (CT). That makes things easier - you don't have to worry about time differences when calling different parts of the state.

How Area Codes Work in Louisiana

Different area codes in Louisiana cover different parts of the state. Usually, big cities and their surrounding areas get their own area codes because lots of people live there and they need lots of phone numbers. Smaller cities might share an area code that covers a larger geographic area.

Sometimes when a region runs out of available phone numbers, they add a new area code. They can do this in two ways: either split the region into two parts (so some people have to change their numbers), or add a new code that covers the same area (so new phone numbers get the new code, but existing numbers don't change).

What You Should Know

Just because someone has a Louisiana area code doesn't mean they're actually in Louisiana right now. People can keep their phone numbers when they move to different states. Your cousin who moved from Louisiana to another state probably still has their old Louisiana number.

If you need to dial an area code for local calls depends on where you are in Louisiana. Some areas require you to dial all 10 digits (area code + number) even for local calls. Other areas let you just dial the 7-digit number for local calls. When in doubt, dial all 10 digits - it always works.

Watch Out for Scams

Scammers can make their calls show any area code they want, including Louisiana area codes. So don't automatically trust a call just because it looks like it's from Louisiana. If someone calls asking for money, personal information, or saying you've won something, be very careful - even if it shows a local area code.