206 Forever
Seattle’s longtime area code is getting a new number
By Sarah Stackhouse May 9, 2025
If you’ve got a 206 number, go ahead and brag a little. It’s about to get exclusive.
Starting June 10, the 564 area code will begin overlaying 206 in Seattle. Blame the cell phones, tablets, watches. Everything wants a number now. Area codes often run out eventually, but this speeds things up. And since we now carry our numbers with us when we move, there’s less turnover. So the 206 supply is nearing its end.
The 206 area code has been around since 1947, when it covered the entire state of Washington. As the population grew, it got carved up. 509 was introduced in 1957 for Eastern Washington. Then came 360 in 1995, followed by 425 and 253 in 1997 for parts of Western Washington. The 564 joined the mix in 2017 as an overlay for 360, and now it’s coming to Seattle.
If this all feels a little dramatic, it kind of is. Area codes aren’t just for routing calls. They can feel like identity markers. 212 is a New York City birthright. Same with 415 in San Francisco. Drake has a song named after Miami’s 305.
It’s not just big cities that claim their codes. My hometown of Grass Valley, Calif., proudly embraces its 530. And on the Eastside, 425 Magazine in Bellevue is named after the local area code.
So, does it really matter? Maybe not. But still, if I ever move, I’m keeping my 206. There’s really no reason to change it. And yeah, I’m a little attached to it.
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