948 Area Code - All You Need To Know
Something rather important has been happening with phone numbers for folks living in the Hampton Roads area and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. You see, there's a fresh area code, 948, that has made its appearance, and it’s a big deal for how people connect. This new set of numbers is here because the older 757 area code, which has been around for a while, was starting to run low on available phone numbers, and so, you know, they needed a solution.
This addition means that many new phone lines and services in places like Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk might now get a 948 number instead of a 757 one. It's not about changing your existing number if you already have a 757; it's more about providing new options as the population grows and more phones are needed. This change, which officially began to roll out in early 2022, actually impacts how local calls are made too, as we'll talk about a little later, as a matter of fact.
For anyone who lives in or plans to move to this part of Virginia, getting a grip on what the 948 area code means is pretty helpful. It's a sign of growth for the region, and it brings a slight shift in how people dial their friends, family, and local businesses. So, in a way, it’s a small change with a fairly broad reach for daily communication.
Table of Contents
- Why Did the 948 Area Code Show Up?
- The 948 Area Code's New Home
- What Does the 948 Area Code Mean for Your Calls?
- Getting Used to the 948 Area Code
- Where Exactly Does the 948 Area Code Reach?
- Cities and Towns with the 948 Area Code
- Is the 948 Area Code Different from 757?
- The 948 Area Code and its Older Partner
Why Did the 948 Area Code Show Up?
You might be asking yourself, why do we need a new set of numbers for phones in this part of Virginia? Well, the simple answer is that the older 757 area code, which came into being on July 1, 1996, was simply running out of available phone numbers. It's like a popular neighborhood that suddenly has no more empty lots for new houses. The number of people and businesses needing phones just kept growing, and the system needed more room to put new connections. So, as a matter of fact, that's where the 948 area code enters the picture.
The 948 Area Code's New Home
The 948 area code is what folks call an "overlay." This means it doesn't split the region into different parts, but rather, it sits right on top of the existing 757 area. So, if you live in a place that has a 757 number, someone right next door might get a 948 number when they set up a new phone line. It’s pretty much like adding another layer of numbers to the same geographic space. The State Corporation Commission made the decision to put this new area code into service, starting on April 9, 2022, because the supply of 757 numbers was getting very, very low.
What Does the 948 Area Code Mean for Your Calls?
When a new area code gets added as an overlay, it often changes how you make local calls. Before the 948 area code arrived, if you were calling someone in the same 757 area, you might have only needed to dial seven numbers. But with the introduction of 948, things shifted a bit. Now, whether you're calling a 757 number or a 948 number within the Hampton Roads region, you need to dial all ten digits. This means the area code plus the seven-digit phone number. This change began on April 9, 2022, and it's a small but significant adjustment for everyone who lives there, you know.
Getting Used to the 948 Area Code
Getting used to dialing ten digits for every local call can take a little while. It's a habit change, after all. People who have been used to just dialing seven numbers for years suddenly need to remember those three extra digits at the start. This is important for all local calls, whether they are to a phone that has a 757 area code or one that has a 948 area code. So, it's almost like a new rule for everyone, making sure all calls connect correctly. This helps the phone system know exactly where to send your call, even with two different area codes covering the same spots, in a way.
Where Exactly Does the 948 Area Code Reach?
The 948 area code doesn't just cover one tiny spot; it stretches across a pretty wide part of Virginia. It serves the entire Hampton Roads metropolitan area, which is a big and busy place, and it also includes the Eastern Shore of the state. This means it's for a lot of people and a lot of different communities. It’s not just for the big cities, but also for many smaller towns and areas that are part of this vibrant part of the commonwealth, as a matter of fact.
Cities and Towns with the 948 Area Code
When we talk about the places the 948 area code looks after, we're talking about a good number of cities and counties. It covers around 34 cities and 17 counties, or sometimes it's said to be 35 cities, depending on how you count. Some of the bigger, well-known places that fall under this area code include Virginia Beach, which is a popular spot, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Newport News. You'll also find it in Hampton and Norfolk City, among others. Basically, if you are in the Hampton Roads region or on the Eastern Shore, the 948 area code is there, or could be, for new phone numbers.
Is the 948 Area Code Different from 757?
In terms of where they are located, the 948 area code and the 757 area code are not different at all. They cover the exact same geographic region. The main difference is simply the numbers themselves. One is 757, and the other is 948. The 757 has been around for a while, since the mid-nineties, and the 948 is the new kid on the block, having just arrived in 2022. They work together to make sure there are enough phone numbers for everyone who lives or moves into this part of Virginia, you know.
The 948 Area Code and its Older Partner
The 948 area code is a partner to the 757 area code. Think of it like two different sets of keys that open the same door. When the 757 area code was created back in 1996, it came from a split of the 804 area code. Now, 948 is simply an addition to 757, an overlay to keep the phone number supply flowing. So, if you hear someone talk about the "757" when referring to the Hampton Roads area, they are still very much talking about the same place, even with the 948 area code now also in the mix. It covers roughly 410,000 unique phone numbers, which is a pretty big amount, in some respects.
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Chesapeake 948 Area Code Skyline Virginia Vintage SVG Cutting Files
Chesapeake 948 Area Code Skyline Virginia Vintage SVG Cutting Files
