Area codes are an essential part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). They’re managed by the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) and are vital for routing telephone calls to the correct destination.
So, where is area code 989? Area code 989 serves northeastern Michigan, encompassing a large area of the state. You’ll find it in cities like Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City.
Location and Coverage of Area Code 989
Area code 989 covers a broad swath of northeastern Michigan. In fact, it’s the only area code serving this particular portion of the state.
Key counties within the 989 area code include Saginaw, Midland, and Bay counties. The reference I consulted includes a longer list of counties that are part of the 989 area.
Some of the major cities you’ll find in the 989 area code are Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City. Other cities include Alma, Alpena, Bad Axe, Caro, Clare, East Tawas, Gaylord, Gladwin, Grayling, Harrison, Houghton Lake, Mount Pleasant, Oscoda, Rose City, Standish, St. Louis, Tawas City, and West Branch.
These cities are important to the economy and population of northeastern Michigan.
The history of area code 989
Area code 989 came into being on April 7, 2001. It was created to give some breathing room to the overburdened 517 area code, which had been running low on available numbers.
Area code 989 was the 293rd area code established in the United States. It was one of 26 area codes introduced in 2001 alone. It was also the ninth area code to be assigned in the state of Michigan.
The North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) oversees the creation and assignment of area codes in the United States. They decide when new area codes are needed and which regions get them.
Time zone and mnemonics
Time zone
Area code 989 is in the Eastern Time Zone (America/New_York), so keep that in mind when you’re calling to or from the area. If you’re doing business, you’ll want to schedule your calls accordingly.
Mnemonics
Mnemonics are letter combinations that match the numbers on a phone keypad. For area code 989, you could use letter combinations that start with W, X, Y, or Z.
What area codes are nearby?
Area code 989 used to be part of area code 517, which now surrounds 989 to the south. The 517 area code covers south-central Michigan, including cities like Lansing, Jackson, and Adrian.
To the east, you’ll find area code 810, which serves the thumb region of Michigan, including Flint and Port Huron. Area code 231 lies to the west, covering much of northern lower Michigan, including Traverse City and Muskegon. Finally, area code 616 borders to the southwest and includes Grand Rapids.
Telephone Carriers Operating in Area Code 989
Several telephone companies, both landline and wireless, provide service within the 989 area code.
Landline Carriers
Some of the major landline carriers in the 989 area include Frontier, Ameritech, and CenturyLink. Frontier has roughly 27% of the prefixes in the region, while both Ameritech and CenturyLink each have about 15%.
Wireless Carriers
On the wireless side, major players include Verizon and Cingular. Verizon has approximately 14% of the prefixes in the 989 area, and Cingular has around 7%.
Keep in mind that these are approximate percentages based on the number of prefixes assigned to each carrier. Actual market share may vary.
Prefixes and Their Usage
The first three numbers after an area code are called the prefix. Telephone companies assign prefixes to different carriers and towns within an area code.
For example, area code 989 has prefixes assigned to Verizon, Charter, and several smaller local providers spread throughout the region. It’s possible to find specific data on which prefixes belong to which carrier in which city, but the information is too detailed to list here.
Generally, the way prefixes are allocated reflects how many people live in a certain area and which telephone companies operate there.
Summary
Area code 989 is located in the northeastern quadrant of Michigan’s lower peninsula. It’s an important identifier for the region and its residents.
Knowing your area codes is key to communicating effectively in today’s world. Area codes may seem like an old-fashioned concept, but they’re still a crucial part of our telecommunications system.