Area codes 610 and 484
Encyclopedia
Area codes 610 and 484 are telephone
area codes which serve the eastern and southeastern regions of Pennsylvania
. The area includes the cities of Allentown
, Bethlehem
, and Reading
, along with much of the Delaware Valley
(including parts of West Philadelphia
), including most of the Philadelphia Main Line. Created in anticipation of number exhaustion
in the area code 215 serving the whole of southeast Pennsylvania, area code 610 was split off on the morning of January 8, 1994, with a year-long permissive dialing
period ending on the morning of January 7, 1995. Further growth in the region over the subsequent five years spurred the introduction of overlay plan
s in the Commonwealth, with area code 484 being overlaid upon 610 on June 5, 1999, along with the introduction of mandatory ten-digit dialing.
Area code 835 was to be an additional overlay onto 610 and 484, announced by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
in May 2000 and to be implemented in 2001, but newly developed, more efficient number pooling
measures were introduced instead, eliminating the immediate need for the new area code. The Commission formally withdrew plans for the new code on June 23, 2005, although the code remains reserved for later use within the Commonwealth
if necessary.
Area code 610 holds the distinction of being the last area code number to be assigned that had a "1" (one) for its middle digit. When area codes were introduced in 1947, all numbers followed the pattern N0N or N1N (where the middle digit was either a zero or one). By 1994, area code 610 was the last remaining number in this group. The next new area codes after 610 to be assigned (334 in Alabama and 360 in Washington, both in 1995) were the first to have numbers other than 0 or 1 for their middle digits.
for their TWX, or TeletypeWriter eXchange network. The area code was decommissioned for TWX usage in 1981 when Western Union
, who had acquired the TWX network in 1969 from AT&T and renamed it Telex II
, upgraded the network to "4-row" ASCII
operation (it previously used both "3-row" Baudot
and ASCII transmission).
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
area codes which serve the eastern and southeastern regions of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The area includes the cities of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
, and Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, along with much of the Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
(including parts of West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
), including most of the Philadelphia Main Line. Created in anticipation of number exhaustion
Exhaust date
In telecommunications, an exhaust date refers to the date at which an area code will run out of numbers due to growth in the number of subscribers....
in the area code 215 serving the whole of southeast Pennsylvania, area code 610 was split off on the morning of January 8, 1994, with a year-long permissive dialing
Permissive dialing
In North America, permissive dialing is the ability to make phone calls in an area subject to a newly introduced area code using both the new and preexisting dialing methods....
period ending on the morning of January 7, 1995. Further growth in the region over the subsequent five years spurred the introduction of overlay plan
Overlay plan
In telephony, especially in North America, an overlay plan is the practice of introducing a new area code by applying it onto a geographic area that is already occupied by one or more existing area codes, resulting in two area codes serving the same area.- Methodology :Prior to the introduction of...
s in the Commonwealth, with area code 484 being overlaid upon 610 on June 5, 1999, along with the introduction of mandatory ten-digit dialing.
Area code 835 was to be an additional overlay onto 610 and 484, announced by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is the public utility commission in Pennsylvania. It is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate....
in May 2000 and to be implemented in 2001, but newly developed, more efficient number pooling
Number pooling
Number pooling is a method of reallocating telephony numbering space in the North American Numbering Plan, primarily in growth areas in the United States....
measures were introduced instead, eliminating the immediate need for the new area code. The Commission formally withdrew plans for the new code on June 23, 2005, although the code remains reserved for later use within the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
if necessary.
Area code 610 holds the distinction of being the last area code number to be assigned that had a "1" (one) for its middle digit. When area codes were introduced in 1947, all numbers followed the pattern N0N or N1N (where the middle digit was either a zero or one). By 1994, area code 610 was the last remaining number in this group. The next new area codes after 610 to be assigned (334 in Alabama and 360 in Washington, both in 1995) were the first to have numbers other than 0 or 1 for their middle digits.
Counties served
- Berks CountyBerks County, Pennsylvania-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
- All but extreme western portions (in 717), extreme northern portions (in 570) and HerefordHereford, PennsylvaniaHereford is an unincorporated community in Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its ZIP code is 18056. The community lies at the intersection of Pennsylvania Routes 29 and 100, which connect it to East Greenville and to Pottstown, respectively to the south...
area (served by the Pennsburg exchange in the 215/267 area code). - Bucks CountyBucks County, Pennsylvania- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
- Northeastern portion served by the CoopersburgCoopersburg, PennsylvaniaCoopersburg is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Allentown in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Coopersburg was 2,386 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, SpringtownSpringfield Township, Bucks County, PennsylvaniaSpringfield Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,035 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 30.8 square miles , all of it land...
, RiegelsvilleRiegelsville, PennsylvaniaRiegelsville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 868 at the 2010 census.-History:Benjamin Riegel founded Riegelsville. The original, and now historic, that he built in 1838 still stands. This historic stone inn has offered food and lodging to Bucks County...
and FerndaleNockamixon Township, PennsylvaniaNockamixon Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,441 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.6 square miles , of which, 22.2 square miles of it is land and...
exchanges. - Chester CountyChester County, Pennsylvania-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
- All but the extreme western portion [which is served by the (717-442) GapGap, PennsylvaniaGap is a census-designated place and town in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with a zip code of 17527. The population was 1,611 at the 2000 census...
exchange]. - Delaware CountyDelaware County, PennsylvaniaDelaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
- All - Lancaster CountyLancaster County, PennsylvaniaLancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
- Far southeastern portion of the county only, centered around the town of ChristianaChristiana, PennsylvaniaChristiana is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,124 at the 2000 census. In 1851 it was the site of the Battle of Christiana .-Geography:...
. Rest of county uses the 717 area code. - Lehigh CountyLehigh County, Pennsylvania-Climate:Most of the county's climate is considered to fall in the humid continental climate zone. Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Precipitation is almost uniformly distributed throughout the year....
- All but extreme southwestern portion, served by the PennsburgPennsburg, PennsylvaniaPennsburg is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,843 at the 2010 census.It is part of the Upper Perkiomen School District....
exchange in the 215/267 overlay. - Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
- Southern and western portions, other areas are served by the 215/267 area codes. - Northampton CountyNorthampton County, PennsylvaniaAs of the 2010 census, the county was 86.3% White, 5.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 2.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 2.2% were two or more races, and 3.8% were some other race. 10.5% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.As of the census of...
- All but extreme northeastern portions, such as Portland and Upper Mount Bethel Township, which are in the 570 area code - Carbon CountyCarbon County, PennsylvaniaAs of the census of 2000, there were 58,802 people, 23,701 households, and 16,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 154 people per square mile . There were 30,492 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile...
- Far southern portion - Monroe CountyMonroe County, Pennsylvania-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
- Far southwestern portion - Schuylkill CountySchuylkill County, Pennsylvania-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
- Far southern portion
Prior usage for TWX
The 610 area code (along with area codes 510, 710, 810, and 910) was used prior to 1981 by AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
for their TWX, or TeletypeWriter eXchange network. The area code was decommissioned for TWX usage in 1981 when Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
, who had acquired the TWX network in 1969 from AT&T and renamed it Telex II
Telex II
Telex II is the later name for the TWX teletypewriter network, which was originally founded & established by AT&T. It was later acquired from AT&T by Western Union, who renamed it Telex II....
, upgraded the network to "4-row" ASCII
ASCII
The American Standard Code for Information Interchange is a character-encoding scheme based on the ordering of the English alphabet. ASCII codes represent text in computers, communications equipment, and other devices that use text...
operation (it previously used both "3-row" Baudot
Baudot code
The Baudot code, invented by Émile Baudot, is a character set predating EBCDIC and ASCII. It was the predecessor to the International Telegraph Alphabet No 2 , the teleprinter code in use until the advent of ASCII. Each character in the alphabet is represented by a series of bits, sent over a...
and ASCII transmission).