Area Code 217
The three digit area code is the convention for carrying out the telephonic communication in the United States of America. The area code 217 serves the central Illinois that covers Springfield (the capital city). The cities that are covered by this area code are Decatur, Danville, Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul and Quincy. The system of area codes was developed by the researchers at the AT&T and Bell Laboratories during the 1940’s. Prior to the development of the three digit area code system, all the states used a one digit number to carry out telephonic communication. Later al he states and provinces in the United States of America were provided with three digit area codes. These area codes differed from one another and there were basically two types of area codes: The one that contained 0 as the middle digit and the ones that contained 1 as the middle digit. This numbering system is also known as the North American Numbering Plan that is often abbreviated as NANP. This numbering system came into effect in the year 1947 and has still remained the same. Through the years the only change had been in the increase of area codes that are in use. Some of the old and new area codes were spoilt from time to time to give rise to new area codes. These splits were the result of the increase in telephonic traffic which increased because of the rise in the population. The NANP system of area codes came into existence in the year 1947, but has remained as the most comprehensi9ve and efficient numbering system ever developed.
The total population that is covered by the area code 217 is 1, 133, 780 (as estimated by the census of 2000). The area code 217 covers a total of 44 counties and 340 cities wherein there is a total of 728 exchanges. Some of the counties that are served by this area code are Adams, Bond, Brown, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Iroquois, Jasper, Knox, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, McDonough, Mclean, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Piatt, Pike, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazewell and Vermilion. The cities that are served by the area coded 217 are as follows: Carthage, Chambersburg, Clarksburg Township, Cold Spring Township, Dry Point Township, Effingham, Fishhook, Flat Branch Township, Greenup, Herrick Township, Holland Township, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Macon, Meredosia, Monticello, Moweaqua Township, Okaw Township, Pana, Penn Township, Petersburg, Pickaway Township, Riverton, Rockport, Seehorn, St. Joseph, Summer Hill, Thawville, Toledo, Tolono, Tuscola, Virden, White Heath.
The carriers under the area code 217 are:
Illinois Valley Cellular Rsa 2 I Pa
American Messaging
Cellular Properties
T Mobile Usa
Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems
United States Cellular Corp
Heartland Communications
Illinois Bell Tel Co
Salmon Pcs Licensee
Sprint Spectrum
SWB Mobile Systems
TMP Corp