Area code 616

Map of area code 616 in Michigan.

Area code 616 is the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) area code for the west-central portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The area code includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Holland, Greenville, and Grand Haven. It includes all of Kent and Ottawa counties, and parts of neighboring counties, including the Western and Central parts of Ionia county.

616 was created in 1947 as one of the original area codes. It originally covered the entire western half of the Lower Peninsula, as well as the Upper Peninsula. It was by far the largest of Michigan's three original numbering plan areas, covering as much territory as Michigan's other two original area codes, 313 and 517, combined. It was also the largest area east of the Mississippi River that didn't cover an entire state. In 1961, the Upper Peninsula split off as area code 906. In 1999, the northwestern Lower Peninsula became area code 231, reducing 616 to cover West Michigan.

The 1999 split was intended to be a long-term solution for the region, but within two years 616 was already running out of numbers due to the proliferation of cell phones and pagers. In 2002, the lower third of the old 616 territory, including Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, became area code 269.

External links

• Map of Michigan area codes at North American Numbering Plan Administration's website
• List of exchanges from AreaCodeDownload.com, 616 Area Code

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