Area code 618, Telephone prefix in southern Illinois, US
Area code 618 is a telephone prefix serving southern Illinois and covers a wide region that includes both developed areas and farmland. It connects communities across multiple counties, ranging from larger cities to smaller towns throughout this part of the state.
This prefix began in 1947 as one of the original area codes and changed significantly in 1954 when a metropolitan area switched from a different code. Additional capacity was later added to keep pace with growing phone number demands.
The area connects 126 municipalities including Carbondale, Belleville, and East St. Louis, each with distinct local identities and regional traditions.
When making calls to or from this region, use the standard format and remember this area follows central time. Knowing the time zone helps if you are coordinating calls with people in the territory.
In July 2023, area code 730 joined as an overlay to provide additional telephone numbers due to projected code exhaustion by 2025.
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