Area code 502

{{Short description|Area code in Kentucky, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} thumb|Kentucky's numbering plan areas and area codes

'''Area code 502''' is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan for north-central Kentucky. The numbering plan area includes the city of Louisville, its suburbs, and the state capital, Frankfort.

==History== Area code 502 is one of the original North American area codes established in October 1947, initially assigned to the entire state of Kentucky.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.areacode-info.com/!history/1947.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016183718/http://www.areacode-info.com/!history/1947.htm |archive-date=2006-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The eastern half of the state was assigned area code 606 in 1954,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.areacode-info.com/!history/1940s50s.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020911092304/http://areacode-info.com/!history/1940s50s.htm |archive-date=2002-09-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the western half was assigned area code 270 in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/pl-nanp-155.pdf |title=Planning Letter 155: Split of 501 Numbering Plan Area (NPA) in Kentucky |publisher=NANPA/Lockheed Martin |date=1999-02-01 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref>

On August 19, 2025, the Kentucky Public Service Commission approved the addition of '''area code 761''' to the 502 numbering plan area, creating an overlay complex to avert exhaustion of central office codes in the NPA, which is forecasted for the third quarter of 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Lucy |date=2025-08-19 |title=New area code for 502 region announced |url=https://www.wkyt.com/2025/08/19/new-area-code-502-region-announced/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |website=www.wkyt.com }}</ref> The area code is reserved by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator, but has not been officially assigned and a specific relief plan has not been announced.

==Service area== The numbering plan area comprises the following Kentucky counties. The boundary tracks closely, but not exactly, existing county lines. {{div col|colwidth=9em}} *Anderson County *Bullitt County *Carroll County *Franklin County *Henry County *Jefferson County *Nelson County *Oldham County *Owen County *Scott County *Shelby County *Spencer County *Trimble County {{div col end}}

Parts of Hardin and Meade counties are also served by this area code,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://kentucky.gov/Newsroom/psc/pscpr6-13-2007A.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201104726/http://kentucky.gov/Newsroom/psc/pscpr6-13-2007A.htm |archive-date=2008-12-01 |title=364 will be Kentucky's newest area code - New number will cover western portion of current area code 270 |publisher=Kentucky Public Service Commission |date=2007-06-13 |access-date=2007-06-13}}</ref> specifically: *The Fort Knox Army installation, located primarily in Hardin County, also spreads into Meade, and Bullitt counties. *The city of Muldraugh, which straddles the Meade–Hardin County line and is surrounded by Fort Knox. *The city of West Point in Hardin County and its surrounding area, which is separated from the rest of Hardin County by Fort Knox.

Other cities in the 502 numbering plan area include Georgetown, Shelbyville, and Bardstown. Georgetown is a long-distance call to other cities with the area code, but is a free local call to Lexington, which uses area code 859.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Area code box|State=KY |This= 502 | N= 812/930 |S= 270/364, 859 |E= 859 |W= 812/930 |S1=IN }}

502 502 Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1947 Category:1947 establishments in Kentucky