Learn About the Utah Area Code Directory

Utah is situated at the western part of the country. Most of the population of this state resides mainly in and around the Salt Lake City. Thus, vast expanses of Utah are left uninhabited. This is the reason that the Utah area code directory has only three active area codes. The area codes are the first three digits of a ten-digit telephone number.

In 1947, the telecommunication department of the United States classified the whole country into 86 area codes. These codes denote the region covered by them. The following three digits in a phone number indicate the telephone exchange that come under that area code. The last four digits indicate the individual who owns that number.  In Utah, the three area codes are 801, 435 and 385.

Area Code 801

801 is one of those area codes that were created in 1947. For almost half a century it remained the only area code to serve the whole state. Post 1997, the area code 435 was split off from it. It serves the population inhabiting northern part of the state, especially the area of Wasatch Front. The counties covered by this area code include Salt Lake, Utah, Morgan, Weber, and Davis. The important cities that 801 covers are Salt Lake City, Sandy, Midvale, Murray, Alta, Orem, Ogden, Provo and some more.

In 2000, Public Service Commission of Utah granted permission for a split of the area code 801. This was implemented in 2001. The administration had decided to retain 801 for Salt Lake County. All the other counties under it were then placed under a new area code 385 which is non-contiguous. However, the plan was postponed. In 2007, the implementation of the area code 385 was announced but the notice also stated that the split would not be implemented rather there would be an overlay.

Area Code 435

The area code 435 came into existence on September 21, 1997 when area code 801 had a split. Entire Utah, except for Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden metropolitan areas, is covered by this area code. In other words, 435 cover the counties beyond Wasatch Front. The main cities that come under 435 are St George, Moab, Logan, Price, and Park City. This area code is covered by both cellular and landline phones by all the leading service providers.

Area Code 385

The area code 385 is an overlay of the area code 801. It was supposed to have been in effect from 2001 but due to some administrative decisions, the implementation was deferred. Finally, it was implemented in June 2008 but not as a separate area code but was overlaid with the area code 801. At present, it serves all the five counties- Salt Lake, Morgan, Ogden, Weber and Davis, along with 801. With the implementation of the overlay plan in Utah on March 1, 2009, it became mandatory to dial all the ten digits of a phone number even when dialing from the Wasatch Front. For a year, that is from June 1, 2008 to March 1, 2009, the callers could connect to a number by dialing both the seven and the ten digits.