10-DIGIT CALLING: Today is the day. In order to call anywhere in the 814, it is necessary to dial all 10 digits of the phone number. If you dial seven digits, you will get an automated message prompting them to hang up and redial the call using the full ten-digit number.

In honor of today’s change, we are sharing a few facts provided by the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission about the 814.

The 814 area code was established in 1947 and is one of Pennsylvania’s four original area codes.

It includes cities such as Altoona, Erie, Johnstown and State College, and covers all or parts of 27 counties, including Armstrong (northeastern portion only); Bedford; Blair; Cambria; Cameron; Centre (majority of the county); Clarion (all except portions of west); Clearfield; Clinton (small portions); Crawford (all except southwestern portion); Elk; Erie; Fayette (small portions); Forest; Fulton (western portions); Huntingdon (except Kishacoquillas Valley); Indiana (northern and eastern portions only); Jefferson; McKean; Mercer (extreme northeastern portion); Mifflin (extreme southwestern corner); Potter; Somerset; Tioga (western portions only); Venango (all except southeastern corner); Warren; and Westmoreland (extreme northeastern corner only).

814 is the largest area code in the state, geographically, and the only area that hasn’t already received an additional area code overlay to replenish its dwindling supply of phone numbers.

On May 1, the new overlay area code will be placed into service.

However, new area code numbers will not be assigned until available 814 numbers are exhausted.

The 582 area code designation was selected by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), Somos, Inc., the neutral third-party which administers telephone resources across the United States.