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If you’re looking to spend time in the good ol’ Heart of Dixie, you’re going to want to learn the lingo. That means college football, hearty Southern food, passive aggressiveness thinly concealed by politeness, and much more.
While getting to know the local area codes isn’t going to turn you into a local overnight, having the right digits can help you communicate and fit in more easily. So, tighten up your Bible belt and keep reading for the 4-1-1 on the 334 — and how you can make it your own with the right phone number app.
What Is the 334 Area Code?
The 334 area code covers Southeastern Alabama. It split off from the original 205 area code back in 1995. Fun fact: it was the first area code in the country not to have a middle digit of zero or one.
Originally, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) limited the middle digit of area codes to zero and one. But as the country grew and more people added one or more mobile numbers to their names, it became clear there was a problem. Not only would these individual area codes be exhausted — the possibilities for new ones would be exhausted, too.
So, the interchangeable NPA and central office codes were introduced. This allowed any number to be in the middle position of your area code by 1995, enabling the introduction of the 334 area code. So the 334 area code is actually a national first.
What Areas Are Covered by the 334 Area Code?
The 334 area code covers most of Southern Alabama. As we’ll get to in the next section, this area has been split up since the implementation of the 334 area code in 1995, but in general, you’ll find this area code across the following cities:
In addition to these cities, the Alabama portion of Columbus, Georgia, falls under this area code, too. It can be confusing when major metro areas are split across multiple states, so take note — if your Tinder date says she’s born and raised in Columbus but has the Alabama 334 area code, there’s still hope she’s not a catfish.
There are, of course, many rural areas outside of these more significant cities that fall under the purview of the 334 area code. The following counties are covered by 334:
What Are the Other Alabama Area Codes?
We mentioned that the 334 area code came into use when the original 205 area code reached its limit. Since that happened in 1995, there’s been an additional split. The Southwestern part of the numbering plan area was restructured under a 251 area code in 2001, and it took the metro area of Mobile, Alabama, with it.
It now looks like the 334 area code is about to reach its limit, too. Projections show that Southeastern Alabama will need a refresh as early as next year.
In anticipation of this, the new area code 483 has already been approved. It’ll be an overlay — which means it will be used in addition to the 334 area code and cover the same geographic region. As of now, however, the 483 area code hasn’t gone into use yet.
Outside of Southern Alabama, there’s the 659 overlay, which started covering the same area as the original 205 area code in 2019. These area codes span the central and western parts of the state, including cities like Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.
The 256 area code spans across Northern and east central Alabama. In 2010, the 938 overlay was introduced to this region, covering the same geographic area.
Why Does Area Code Matter?
Becoming a true blue local anywhere is hard. Every town has its own culture, language, and quirks — and knowing these idiosyncrasies is the difference between being clocked as a visitor and seeming like you’ve been around forever.
Maybe you’re looking to immerse when traveling for fun or business fully. Maybe you’re from Alabama and are trying to stay connected to friends and family. Or maybe you’re relocating and you want to make sure you get off on the right foot. Whatever the case, a local area code is a simple way to unplug that big neon sign that screams NOT FROM HERE.
It isn’t just about appearances, either. It’s also about confidence — both in yourself and the confidence others have in you.
Think about it like a friend setting you up with their friend when you visit or move to a new town. When you walk into that friend of a friend’s cookout, people might be wary of you, a total stranger. But as soon as you tell them you know a guy who knows a guy, they’ll probably let their guard down and start to welcome you in.
These small connections make everything easier, from making professional connections to getting more pick-ups from cold calls. Rather than being ignored or blocked as spam, with a local area code, you’re more likely that someone answers.
Like the friend-of-a-friend’s cookout, having a local area code is a small signal to whomever you’re reaching out to that you’re not a total stranger. You’re just somebody they haven’t met yet.
All that said, there are simpler reasons to seek out a new area code. Maybe you’re from Southern Alabama originally, but you’ve since moved away and gotten a new phone number. It can be a small, comforting connection to home to change your number to reflect where your heart is.
Luckily, if you’re spending time in or regularly communicating with the regions covered by the 334 area code, getting a custom phone number with those local digits is easier than you think.
How Do You Get a 334 Area Code?
If you need a 334 area code, you could buy a whole new phone plan, cancel your old number, and hope you don’t leave anyone out in your barrage of “new number” texts and emails.
Then, you can ignore the niggling worry that some life-changing voicemail is waiting for you on your old number because you forgot to tell someone important.
That sounds stressful. Okay, fine — you can keep your existing number, buy a second phone, and add a second line to your plan. Of course, you’ll have to be in the area covered by the 334 area code to do this. And you’ll have to make sure to get on it before that new 483 area code comes into use.
Now you have two phones, two numbers, two phone bills … that doesn’t sound any easier, does it? Let’s try again. Keep your current number. Keep your current phone plan. Don’t add another expensive plan from your service provider.
With us so far? Great. Now, all you have to do is download Burner. Using an app on your existing phone, you can set up new numbers with the local area code you need. Your new number operates through the app, so it makes use of your existing service and data — no need to have a true second line.
The best part is that you can keep this number as long as you need and get rid of it when you don’t. In the same way that you organize your emails with personal, professional, and spam email accounts, you can organize your calls and texts.
And with better spam control than your in-built device’s options, getting a new number doesn’t just give you local cred. It gives you peace of mind — and local cred.
Is 33-For You?
An area code isn’t going to transform you, your relationships, or your work. Sweet Home Alabama is a state of mind and a killer rom-com, but there’s more to it than simply changing your phone number. That said, having a familiar area code does make your life easier.
It removes a barrier to communication, both to people you know and people you don’t. It makes you appear more trustworthy and means locals are more likely to engage with you rather than write you off because they don’t recognize the number.
If you think the 334 area code is for you, you don’t need to go through the hassle of getting a new phone, number, or service provider. For a personalized number with the click of a button, try Burner today.
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