Area code 218, Telephone prefix in northern Minnesota, United States.
Area code 218 covers large sections of northern Minnesota, including major cities like Duluth, Bemidji, and Brainerd along with many smaller communities. The region connects urban centers along waterways with sprawling forests and rural towns.
Area code 218 was established in 1947 as part of the North American Numbering Plan, initially covering northern and western sections of Minnesota. In the 1990s, the Northwest Angle territory was added to it after being served by a Canadian exchange under area code 807.
The region with area code 218 is home to Native American communities whose traditions show up in local events and gatherings throughout northern Minnesota. You can see this cultural presence reflected in how people celebrate and gather in these towns.
Residents and businesses in this area have had to use ten-digit dialing since October 2021 due to the 988 crisis line being introduced. This change affects how you dial any local phone number in the region.
The Northwest Angle territory, which extends into Canada, switched from a Canadian exchange to this area code in the 1990s. This remote border area had its own phone connection before joining this system.
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