Overview
Area code 316 is a North American Numbering Plan (NANP) telephone area code assigned to south-central Kansas, centered on the city of Wichita. It was one of the original area codes introduced in 1947 and today primarily serves the Wichita metropolitan area and adjacent communities.
History and development
When the NANP was created in 1947, area code 316 covered a large portion of southern Kansas. As population and telephone use grew, the service area was reduced to provide more numbering capacity. In 2001 the area outside the Wichita region was reassigned to area code 620, leaving 316 concentrated around Wichita. The code has remained in use since then without an overlay.
Coverage and characteristics
Area code 316 now principally covers Wichita—the state's largest city—and nearby towns and suburbs in south-central Kansas, largely within Sedgwick County and surrounding counties. It is used for landlines, mobile phones, business numbers, and other telecommunications services within that service area. Like other NANP area codes, 316 is a three-digit prefix that identifies a geographic calling region.
Uses and significance
Because Wichita is an economic and transportation hub for Kansas, 316 is commonly associated with the city in business, media and regional identity. Local institutions, government offices, and major employers in the Wichita area typically use numbers within the 316 exchange ranges. Changes to numbering resources, such as splits or overlays, are handled by the numbering plan administrator to ensure continued availability of telephone numbers.
Additional information
- Part of the North American Numbering Plan.
- Originally covered much of southern Kansas; reduced in scope after creation of area code 620 in 2001.
- Centered on Wichita, with surrounding communities in south-central Kansas.
- Geographic reference (approximate): 37.683°N, 97.333°W.