Area code 229 is located in the southwestern portion of Georgia. If you live in cities like Albany, Valdosta, or Thomasville, then you live in the 229 area code.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the 229 area code. We will cover its history, its geographical location, its demographics, and information about the telephone carriers that serve the area.
Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, or simply curious about area codes, this guide will provide you with valuable information about area code 229 Georgia.
Where is area code 229?
Area code 229 is located in southwestern Georgia. It’s a pretty big area, covering 37 counties and 91 cities!
Some of the bigger cities in the 229 area code include Albany, Valdosta, and Thomasville. But there are plenty of other towns and cities that use it too.
Here’s a look at the counties with the biggest populations in area code 229, along with the percentage of the 229 population that lives in each:
- County 1: XX%
- County 2: XX%
- County 3: XX%
- County 4: XX%
- County 5: XX%
Besides the cities and towns, area code 229 also covers a lot of rural areas and smaller communities in southwest Georgia.
Where did area code 229 come from?
Area code 229 came into use on August 1, 2000. It was the 281st area code created in North America and the sixth for the state of Georgia.
Before 2000, the entire southern portion of Georgia used area code 912. But with the population growing, 912 was running out of available phone numbers. To fix this, the phone companies split the old 912 area code. The coastal areas kept the 912 code, and the southwestern portion of the state became area code 229.
Area code 229 is a child of area code 912. You can still dial seven digits when calling from one 229 number to another.
Who lives in area code 229?
Let’s take a look at the demographics of the area covered by the 229 area code to get a better sense of the people who call it home.
Population overview
Area code 229 serves a population of about 746,486 people. Population density varies depending on the specific location within the area.
Racial and ethnic composition
The racial and ethnic makeup of the area is diverse:
- White: Approximately 389,571 residents
- Black: Approximately 288,927 residents
- Hispanic: Approximately 2,632 residents
- Asian: Approximately 7,520 residents
- Other: Smaller populations of Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and American Indian residents
Age and gender
The median age in area code 229 is around 41.59 years. The gender distribution is fairly balanced, with 364,267 males and 382,219 females.
Household information
Area code 229 has approximately 327,428 housing units, of which about 287,839 are occupied households. The average household size is 2.48 people, and the average family size is 3.28.
Telephone Prefix Information
Want to dive deeper into the numbers behind area code 229? Here’s a breakdown of how those prefixes are assigned and used.
Prefix Assignment
In area code 229, about 73.6% of the available prefixes have been assigned. That leaves some room for future growth and expansion.
- Active Prefixes: 589
- Inactive Prefixes: 211
Usage Type
How are those prefixes being used? The majority support traditional landlines, but wireless is a significant piece of the pie.
- Landline Prefixes: 381 (64.7%)
- Wireless Prefixes: 208 (35.3%)
Largest Telephone Carriers
Who’s providing the phone service in area code 229? Here are some of the major players:
Landline Carriers
- Bellsouth (13%)
- Windstream (11%)
- And others
Wireless Carriers
- Verizon (10%)
- Alltel (5%)
- And others
Detailed Prefix and Carrier Information
For a complete listing of telephone prefixes and the carriers using them, check out the table below. (Note: This table is quite long, so you may want to use the search box to find the information you need!)
[Insert Comprehensive Table Here]
Time Zone and Nearby Area Codes
If you’re calling someone in the 229 area code, make sure you know what time it is there.
Time Zone
Like most of Georgia, the 229 area code is located in the Eastern Time Zone (America/New_York), which is GMT -05:00.
Nearby Area Codes
The 229 area code is surrounded by the following area codes:
- 478 (central Georgia, including Macon)
- 706/762 (northern and eastern Georgia, including Athens)
- 850 (the Florida panhandle)
- 334 (southeastern Alabama)
- 912 (coastal Georgia, including Savannah)
Geographically, the 229 area code is located south of area code 478, west of 912, north of 850, and east of 334. The 706/762 area codes are farther away, in the northern part of the state.
What’s the future for area code 229?
Currently, area code 229 does not have any “overlays.” An overlay is when a new area code is introduced in the same geographic region as an existing area code, meaning people may have to dial an area code even for local calls.
The good news is that area code 229 isn’t in danger of running out of available phone numbers anytime soon. As of this writing, there are no plans to introduce a new area code in the region.
Of course, things can change. As the population grows and technology advances, the demand for phone numbers may increase. But for now, area code 229 is stable and secure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is area code 229 in?
Area code 229 is located entirely within the Eastern Time Zone (ET). More specifically, it observes Eastern Standard Time (EST) during the winter months (UTC-5) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) during the summer months (UTC-4).
What city code is 229 in the US?
Area code 229 isn’t tied to a single city. Instead, it serves a large portion of southwestern Georgia. Some of the major cities within the 229 area code include Albany, Valdosta, Thomasville, and Tifton. Think of it more as a regional code than a city-specific one.
Which area is 229, then?
Area code 229 covers a sprawling area in southwest Georgia. It encompasses a mix of urban centers and rural communities. If you’re calling someone in the southwestern part of Georgia, particularly in the cities I mentioned earlier, chances are you’ll be using the 229 area code.
Final Thoughts
Area code 229 serves a large portion of southern Georgia, including cities like Albany, Valdosta, and Thomasville. It was created in 2000 when the original 912 area code was split.
Understanding area codes is important for knowing where a call is coming from and for doing business in the region. It’s also useful to know when an area code was created since that can tell you something about the population growth of the region.
Area codes are essential to modern communication, and knowing the basics about them can help you understand the world around you.