Area codes 508 and 774
Area codes 508 and 774 are North American Numbering Plan telephone area codes for the U.S. state of Massachusetts. This service area currently includes south-central and most of southeastern Massachusetts. It includes Worcester, Outer south and southwest Greater Boston, as well as Fall River, New Bedford, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.
Area code 508 was created on July 16, 1988, as a split from area code 617. Prior to this split, 617 served the entire eastern two-thirds of Massachusetts from roughly the western end of Worcester County to Boston, The Cape and Islands, and the South Coast, while area code 413 served all points west of the original 617 boundary. Permissive dialing of 617 and 508 continued until January 1, 1989.
On September 1, 1997, area code 508 was split, with area code 978 being assigned to the northern part of the service area. Area code 774 is an overlay code that was added to share the 508 service area, beginning on May 2, 2001. Since then, ten-digit local dialing is mandatory.
Some mobile telephone numbers assigned in the 1990s in communities in the former northern half of 508 kept the area code after it split.
As of 2018, NPA 508/774 is projected to be exhausted by 2045.Area codes 508 and 774 include the following regions
Area codes 508 and 774 include the following major cities
