Area code 404, Telephone prefix in Atlanta metropolitan area, US
Area code 404 is a telephone prefix for the city and its inner suburbs within Interstate 285, covering mainly areas in Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties. The prefix is one of five numbers now serving the urban zone after overlays were introduced to manage growth.
The prefix was introduced in 1947 as one of the original North American area codes and initially covered the entire state. Regional splits began later when demand for telephone lines outgrew the original system and required additional codes.
The prefix appears today as an informal badge of city residence, showing up on clothing, stickers, and in local song lyrics. Bars, restaurants, and shops in the inner city often use the number combination in their names or marketing slogans.
Anyone making calls within the area must dial ten digits, including the prefix, even for conversations in the same neighborhood. This rule applies because of overlapping coverage zones throughout the metropolitan region.
The three digits appear in graffiti murals and as tattoo designs among residents who want to show their connection to the inner city. Some local radio stations even use the number as part of their broadcast name or jingles.
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