The 978 area code is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) that covers the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was created in 1997 as a split from the 508 area code, which was the original area code for the entire state of Massachusetts. The 978 area code serves a significant portion of the state, including the cities of Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Gloucester, among others.
History and Implementation
The implementation of the 978 area code was a result of the increasing demand for telephone numbers in the region. The 508 area code, which was introduced in 1988, was facing exhaustion due to the rapid growth of the population and the economy in Massachusetts. To address this issue, the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) decided to split the 508 area code and create a new area code, 978, to serve the northeastern part of the state.
Coverage Area
The 978 area code covers a total of 124 cities and towns in Massachusetts, including:
- Lowell
- Lawrence
- Haverhill
- Gloucester
- Beverly
- Peabody
- Danvers
- Andover
- North Andover
The coverage area of the 978 area code includes Essex County and parts of Middlesex County, Worcester County, and Hillsborough County.
| County | Cities and Towns |
|---|---|
| Essex County | Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Groveland, Hamilton, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham |
| Middlesex County | Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Westford, Wilmington |
| Worcester County | Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Shirley, Sterling, Townsend, Westminster |
| Hillsborough County | Brookline, Nashua, Pelham |
Phone Number Format
Phone numbers in the 978 area code follow the standard North American Numbering Plan format, which consists of a 3-digit area code followed by a 3-digit exchange code and a 4-digit line number. The format is typically written as (978) XXX-XXXX.
Special Services
The 978 area code is also used for special services such as:
- Emergency services: 911
- Directory assistance: 411
- Long-distance services: 1-978-XXX-XXXX
What is the 978 area code used for?
+The 978 area code is used for telephone services in the northeastern part of Massachusetts, covering 124 cities and towns in the region.
When was the 978 area code implemented?
+The 978 area code was implemented in 1997 as a split from the 508 area code.
What counties are covered by the 978 area code?
+The 978 area code covers Essex County and parts of Middlesex County, Worcester County, and Hillsborough County.
