Where is Area Code 235?
Area code 235 is located in the state of Missouri and serves most of eastern Missouri, excluding the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Created as an overlay, it covers the same region as area code 573. This region includes major cities in Missouri:
Columbia
- Jefferson City
- Cape Girardeau
- Rolla
- Hannibal
- Poplar Bluff
- Sikeston
- Farmington
Telecommunications operations and number assignments in this area are regulated by the Missouri Public Service Commission, whose main office is located at:
200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
This agency oversees utility services, including telephone networks, to ensure fair practices and reliable communications throughout the state.
What time zone is 235 area code in the USA?
All regions within area code 235 observe the Central Time Zone (CT).
Central Standard Time (CST) is in effect from early November to mid-March.
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is observed from mid-March through early November during Daylight Saving Time.
For specific information about time zones and Daylight Saving Time, visit the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
History of the 235 Area Code
Area code 235 was officially implemented in early 2024 as an overlay to accommodate the growing demand for new telephone numbers within the existing 573 territory. The original 573 area code was created in 1996 after being split from area code 314. As the number of landlines, mobile phones, and digital devices steadily increased, the available combinations within 573 began to run out.
To avoid forcing existing customers to change their phone numbers, an overlay was introduced instead of a geographic split. Under this approach:
- Both 573 and 235 now serve the same geographic region, and new phone numbers may be assigned with either code.
- Ten-digit dialing became mandatory for local calls within the overlay area, helping to distinguish among numbers that share the same seven-digit suffix but different area codes.
The transition was coordinated by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) in partnership with state and telecommunications authorities, with extensive public education to ensure a smooth changeover.
How Many People Use the 235 Area Code?
The population served by area code 235—together with its predecessor, 573—is measured in the hundreds of thousands, encompassing vibrant university cities, the state’s political center, and several historic river towns. Both residents and businesses in cities like Columbia, Jefferson City, and Cape Girardeau, as well as in surrounding counties, utilize numbers assigned from these area codes for mobile phones, landlines, and various digital services.
As 235 is a new overlay, many established lines still retain 573, but all new lines (and some mobile numbers or additional devices) are increasingly assigned 235.
Is the 235 Area Code Toll-Free?
Area code 235 is classified as a geographic area code and is not toll-free.
Calls made to numbers within this area code are subject to local or long-distance rates, depending on the calling plan and the location of the caller. Typical toll-free area codes in the United States begin with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, or 833; these codes are designed for businesses and organizations that wish to provide no-cost calling to their customers or the public.
- For more details on the rules on toll-free communications, consult the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), located at 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
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