Area codes 208 and 986

{{short description|Telephone area codes of Idaho, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} thumb|Area codes in Idaho '''Area codes 208 and 986''' are telephone area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for all of Idaho. Area code 208 is one of the 86 original North American area codes designated by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1947. It was Idaho's sole area code for seventy years. In 2017, 986 was added to the same numbering plan area in creating an overlay complex.

==History== Because of its small population, Idaho was among a declining number of North American jurisdictions with only one area code. It is also one of the few whole-state area codes split between multiple LATAs—Southern Idaho (centered in Boise and spilling into Nevada, Wyoming and Malheur County, Oregon) and Coeur d'Alene (spilling into Montana and Washington). Additionally, the Spokane, Washington LATA spills into central Idaho.

In 2001, the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) projected that demand would exhaust the numbering pool of area code 208 in 2003. The number shortage was a result of the proliferation of landlines, cellphones, and pagers, particularly in urban areas, in the 1990s. However, in 2002 the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) successfully delayed a split by implementing number pooling in Boise; this was later applied in 2007 to the rest of Idaho to stave off projected exhaustion in 2010.<ref name="pooling">[http://www.puc.idaho.gov/internet/press/091407_areacodeexhaust.htm PUC orders "number pooling" to delay new area code] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602211041/http://www.puc.idaho.gov/internet/press/091407_areacodeexhaust.htm |date=June 2, 2008}} Accessed January 30, 2008</ref>

In the summer of 2013, NANPA projections suggested exhaustion in 2018. By this time all conservation measures had been exhausted. With Idaho's population growing closer to two million, a second area code became necessary; eleven other states with single area codes all have populations of about one million each. Ultimately, a statewide overlay was recommended.<ref name="npr">Saunders, Emilie Ritter. [http://stateimpact.npr.org/idaho/2013/06/18/your-next-idaho-phone-number-might-not-start-with-208/ "Your Next Idaho Phone Number Might Not Start With 208"], Boise State Public Radio, June 18, 2013. (accessed February 21, 2015)</ref> This would have had the effect of assigning 15.6 million numbers to a state of just over 1.7 million people. However, the Idaho PUC wanted to spare Idahoans, particularly in rural areas, the expense and burden of having to change their numbers. An area code split would have also required reprogramming of all cell phones. In the overlay plan, subscribers keep their original area code.

On November 2, 2015, the Idaho PUC approved the addition of area code 986 as a statewide overlay. 986 officially entered service on November 5, 2016. On that date, a permissive dialing period began during which it was possible to make calls with either seven or ten digits. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory across Idaho on August 5, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Idaho's second area code approved|url=http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2015/11/02/idahos-second-area-code-approved/75061276/|website=KTVB.COM|access-date=November 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105030924/http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2015/11/02/idahos-second-area-code-approved/75061276/|archive-date=November 5, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF NEUSTAR, INC. FOR APPROVAL OF NPA RELIEF PLAN FOR THE 208 AREA CODE|url=http://www.puc.idaho.gov/fileroom/cases/tele/GNR/GNRT1506/ordnotc/20151102FINAL_ORDER_NO_33414.PDF|website=Idaho PUC official website|publisher=Idaho Public Utilities Commission|access-date=November 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205637/http://www.puc.idaho.gov/fileroom/cases/tele/GNR/GNRT1506/ordnotc/20151102FINAL_ORDER_NO_33414.PDF|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nationalnanpa.com/pdf/PL_490.pdf NANPA PL-490]</ref> 986 is the second statewide overlay, following the example of area codes 304 and 681 in West Virginia in 2009.

==Service area and central office codes== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Cities ! Area code 208<br/>prefixes ! Area code 986<br/>prefixes |- | Aberdeen | 328, 397 | 242 |- | Albion | 638, 654, 673 | 588, 899 |- | American Falls | 220, 226, 269, 548 | 245 |- | Arbon | 335 | 842 |- | Arco | 527, 767 | 732 |- | Arimo | 705, 708, 760, 904 | |- | Ashton | 652 | 926 |- | Bancroft | 648, 776 | |- | Bayview | 216, 222, 561, 683 | 300 |- | Bellevue | 578, 788 | |- | Bern | 847, 945 | 382 |- | Blackfoot | 346, 604, 643, 680, 681, 684, 690, 782, 785, 980 | 233 |- | Blanchard | 213, 437 | 258 |- | Bliss | 352 | |- | '''Boise''' | 202, 207, 246, 258, 272, 275, 283, 284, 296, 302, 314, 319, 321, 322, 323, 327, 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 338, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 348, 350, 353, 362, 363, 364, 367, 368, 370, 371, 373, 375, 376, 377, 378, 381, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 391, 393, 395, 396, 407, 409, 422, 424, 426, 429, 433, 440, 447, 472, 473, 474, 475, 484, 488, 489, 492, 493, 501, 505, 506, 509, 513, 514, 515, 519, 559, 562, 563, 565, 570, 571, 573, 576, 577, 579, 593, 600, 602, 605, 608, 609, 616, 617, 629, 639, 658, 672, 685, 703, 713, 724, 761, 780, 789, 794, 801, 803, 805, 807, 809, 810, 813, 830, 841, 850, 853, 854, 859, 860, 861, 863, 866, 867, 869, 872, 890, 891, 900, 901, 906, 908, 912, 914, 917, 918, 919, 921, 938, 939, 941, 947, 949, 954, 957, 963, 968, 971, 972, 982, 985, 986, 991, 992, 994, 995, 996, 999 | 200, 210, 213, 217, 224, 226, 229, 230, 236, 256, 268, 269, 270, 273, 279, 280, 283, 287, 666, 793, 837, 867, 888, 895, 910, 986, 999 |- | Bonners Ferry | 295 | 253, 348 |- | Bruneau | 759, 828, 832, 845 | 223 |- | Buhl | 490, 543 | |- | Burley | 219, 261, 312, 430, 572, 647, 650, 654, 670, 677, 678, 808, 831 | 313 |- | Caldwell | 402, 453, 454, 455, 459, 504, 614, 649, 779, 795 | 201, 204, 276, 286 |- | Cambridge | 257 | 250 |- | Carey | 823 | 642 |- | Careywood | 222 | |- | Carmen | 394 | 526 |- | Cascade | 382, 408 | 400, 640 |- | Castleford | 537 | |- | Challis | 879 | 455 |- | Clark Fork | 222, 266 | 671 |- | Clayton | 838 | 982 |- | Clifton | 747 | |- | Coeur d'Alene | 208, 209, 210, 215, 277, 292, 415, 416, 444, 446, 449, 470, 500, 508, 551, 601, 618, 619, 620, 625, 640, 641, 651, 659, 660, 661, 664, 665, 666, 667, 676, 691, 699, 704, 714, 719, 755, 758, 763, 765, 769, 770, 771, 797, 819, 889, 905, 916, 929, 930, 956, 964, 966, 967, 981 | 215, 240, 244, 248, 257, 271, 281, 668, 810, 860, 896 |- | Coolin | 443 | 254 |- | Corral | 653, 764 | 336 |- | Cottonwood | 502, 517, 962 | |- | Council | 253 | 422 |- | Craigmont | 924, 925 | 566 |- | Culdesac | 836 | |- | Dayton | 747 | |- | Deary | 826, 877 | 500, 758 |- | Declo | 349, 638 | |- | Desmet | 268, 274, 668, 951 | 203, 214, 265 |- | Dietrich | 544, 886 | |- | Donnelly | 325, 382, 630, 634 | 227, 686 |- | Downey | 897 | |- | Driggs | 354, 399, 491 | |- | Dubois | 374, 560 | |- | Eden | 825, 829 | |- | Elk City | 842 | |- | Ellis | 894 | 755 |- | Emmett | 365, 369, 398, 477, 817 | 212, 278, 777 |- | Fairfield | 764 | 336 |- | Felt | 456 | |- | Ferdinand | 925 | |- | Filer | 316, 326, 595, 613, 208-751, 933, 944, 948 | 220 |- | Firth | 346 | |- | Franklin | 646 | |- | Fruitland | 294, 452, 510, 566, 674, 707, 729 | 237, 272 |- | Garden City | 321, 322, 323, 327, 373, 375, 376, 377, 378, 658, 672, 685, 853, 854 | |- | Garden Valley | 462, 923 | |- | Genesee | 224, 285, 581 | |- | Geneva | 225 | |- | Gibbonsville | 394 | 526 |- | Glenns Ferry | 366 | |- | Gooding | 934, 961, 969 | |- | Grace | 425, 427, 530, 540, 547 | |- | Grand View | 834, 990 | |- | Grangeville | 451, 494, 507, 983 | 689 |- | Greencreek | 502, 517, 962 | |- | Hagerman | 837 | |- | Hailey | 205, 309, 450, 471, 481, 578, 622, 720, 721, 725, 726, 727, 788, 806 | |- | Hamer | 662 | 388 |- | Harrison | 231, 689, 902, 987 | 255 |- | Hayden | 518, 762, 772 | |- | Heyburn | 438, 654, 679 | |- | Holbrook | 698 | 546 |- | Homedale | 337, 974 | |- | Hope | 264, 266 | 946 |- | Horseshoe Bend | 781, 793 | 218 |- | Idaho City | 392 | |- | Idaho Falls | 200, 201, 206, 227, 243, 313, 403, 419, 497, 516, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 528, 529, 533, 534, 535, 541, 542, 552, 557, 569, 607, 701, 709, 710, 715, 757, 818, 821, 881, 932, 970, 973 | 208, 219, 231, 249, 275, 497, 800 |- | Indian Valley | 253, 256 | 746 |- | Inkom | 705, 708, 760, 775, 904 | |- | Irwin | 270, 483, 499 | 465 |- | Island Park | 558 | 426 |- | Jerome | 316, 320, 324, 329, 595, 644, 751, 933, 944, 948 | |- | Juliaetta | 276, 289 | |- | Kamiah | 702, 820, 935 | 261 |- | Kellogg | 512, 783, 784, 786 | |- | Kendrick | 289 | 289 |- | Ketchum | 309, 450, 471, 481, 622, 720, 721, 725, 726, 727, 806, 913 | 209 |- | Kimberly | 420, 421, 423 | |- | Kooskia | 802, 926 | 636 |- | Kuna | 922 | |- | Lapwai | 224, 621, 804, 836, 843, 927 | |- | Lava Hot Springs | 776 | |- | Leadore | 768 | 246 |- | Lewiston | 224, 298, 299, 305, 413, 503, 553, 717, 743, 746, 748, 750, 790, 791, 792, 798, 799, 816, 848, 984 | 252 |- | Lowman | 259, 864 | 247, 482 |- | Mackay | 588 | 782 |- | Malad City | 766, 815 | |- | Malta | 638, 645, 671, 824 | 243, 899 |- | Marsing | 896 | 225 |- | May | 876 | 334 |- | McCall | 315, 469, 630, 632, 634, 849 | |- | McCammon | 254, 705, 708, 760, 776, 904 | |- | Medimont | 689, 902 | |- | Melba | 204, 495, 856 | 207 |- | Meridian | 288, 401, 412, 631, 695, 706, 822, 846, 855, 870, 871, 884, 887, 888, 893, 895, 898, 955 | |- | Mesa | 253 | |- | Middleton | 585 | |- | Midvale | 355, 592 | |- | Monteview | 657 | 542 |- | Montpelier | 847, 945 | 382 |- | Moore | 554 | |- | Moscow | 301, 310, 596, 669, 874, 882, 883, 885, 892, 997 | 251, 600 |- | Mountain Home | 580, 587, 590, 591, 598, 599, 696, 796, 828, 832, 868, 943 | 232, 466 |- | Mountain Home AFB | 796, 828, 832 | |- | Moyie Springs | 267 | |- | Mullan | 744 | 259 |- | Murphy | 583 | 874 |- | Murtaugh | 218, 432 | |- | Nampa | 249, 250, 318, 442, 461, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 498, 546, 586, 606, 615, 697, 800, 880, 899, 910, 936, 960, 965, 989 | 206, 216, 266, 274, 282, |- | Naples | 267 | |- | New Meadows | 347, 630, 634 | 886 |- | New Plymouth | 278, 566, 674, 707, 953 | 267, 272 |- | Nezperce | 937 | 264 |- | Nordman | 443 | 254 |- | North Fork | 394 | 526 |- | Oakley | 862 | 646, 922 |- | Oldtown | 213, 437 | 258 |- | Orofino | 400, 476, 827 | 866 |- | Parma | 203, 566, 674, 707, 722 | 272, 786, 980 |- | Paul | 438, 532, 679 | 346, 366 |- | Payette | 230, 291, 405, 642, 739, 740, 741, 812 | 239, 942 |- | Peak | 486 | 263 |- | Pierce | 464, 942 | 234, 900 |- | Pinehurst | 682 | |- | Pingree | 328 | |- | Placerville | 392 | 218 |- | Plummer | 231, 273, 274, 686, 987 | 203, 214, 241, 255 |- | Pocatello | 221, 223, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 244, 251, 252, 281, 282, 317, 339, 380, 406, 417, 478, 589, 637, 775, 833, 909, 915 | |- | Post Falls | 262, 457, 773, 777 | |- | Potlatch | 268, 668, 858, 875, 951 | 265, 333 |- | Preston | 646, 840, 851, 852 | |- | Priest River | 213, 428, 437, 448 | 238, 258 |- | Princeton | 858 | |- | Rathdrum | 687, 712 | |- | Reubens | 836, 925 | |- | Rexburg | 351, 356, 359, 360, 390, 496, 656, 716 | |- | Richfield | 487 | 529 |- | Rigby | 745, 754 | 222, 277 |- | Riggins | 628 | 766 |- | Ririe | 538 | |- | Roberts | 228 | |- | Rockland | 335, 548 | 245, 842 |- | Rogerson | 655, 857 | 342 |- | Rupert | 260, 300, 431, 434, 436, 438, 531, 532, 679, 878, 931 | 366, 742 |- | St. Anthony | 372, 612, 624 | 582 |- | St. Charles | 945 | 382 |- | St. Maries | 245, 568, 582 | 241, 262 |- | Salmon | 303, 742, 756, 865, 940, 993 | |- | Sandpoint | 217, 255, 263, 265, 290, 304, 597, 610, 627, 920, 946 | 205 |- | Shelley | 346, 357 | |- | Shoshone | 544, 886 | |- | Soda Springs | 530, 540, 547 | |- | Spencer | 374, 560, 778 | 326 |- | Spirit Lake | 623 | 345 |- | Stanley | 594, 774 | |- | Star | 286 | |- | Sugar City | 372, 612 | 582 |- | Swan Valley | 270, 483 | |- | Sweet | 584 | 218, 444 |- | Tensed | 268, 273, 951 | 203, 214 |- | Terreton | 663 | |- | Teton | 372, 458, 612 | 582 |- | Tetonia | 456 | |- | Thatcher | 425, 427 | |- | Troy | 289, 835 | |- | Twin Falls | 212, 280, 293, 308, 316, 358, 404, 410, 539, 595, 655, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 749, 751, 814, 933, 944, 948 | |- | Victor | 787 | |- | Viola | 668, 858 | 265 |- | Wallace | 556, 752, 753 | |- | Wayan | 564, 574, 675, 688, 873, 998 | 677 |- | Weippe | 435 | 260 |- | Weiser | 414, 549, 550, 718, 907 | 221 |- | Wendell | 536 | |- | Weston | 646, 747 | |- | White Bird | 839 | |- | Wilder | 482 | 386 |- | Worley | 231, 273, 902, 987 | 241, 255 |- | Yellow Pine | 633, 636 | 641 |}

==See also== {{Portal|Idaho}} * List of North American Numbering Plan area codes

{{Area code box |State= ID |This= 208/986 |N= 250/236/672/778, 406 |S= 435, 775 |E= 307, 406 |W= 458/541, 509 |S1= MT |S2= WY |S3= UT |S4= NV |S5= OR |S6= WA |S7= BC }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Area_code_footer|Map=ID}}

{{Area_code_list}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Area Code 208}} 208 208 Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1947