Area code 773, Telephone prefix for outer Chicago neighborhoods, US
Area code 773 is a telephone prefix for the northern and southern parts of Chicago in Illinois. It serves neighborhoods outside the downtown core, where 312 is used, and covers wide sections of the city.
The prefix was introduced in 1996 after the existing 312 code ran out of capacity. The split allowed new connections in growing neighborhoods across the city.
Local residents and business owners incorporate the 773 area code into their community identity, using it as a marker of their connection to Chicago.
The number works together with other prefixes in an overlay system within the city. Anyone calling in Chicago must dial the full area code even for local calls.
The introduction of this prefix meant that many residents had to dial an extra number for local calls for the first time. The change took several months and caused confusion among callers at the start.
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