Area Code 217

Illinois

Area code 217 serves Illinois, primarily Springfield, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.

Published: Updated:

Overlay Area Code

This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.

This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 447 (Springfield).

In service since: 01-Jan-1947

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population
1,515,698
Population Density
54 people/sq mi
below U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income
$64,907
below U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate
13.5%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment
Bachelor's Degree+
27.2%
below U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
36.7%

Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.

See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the income ranking and density ranking.

Time Zone

  • Central Time (CT)

NANPA Relief Status

According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.

Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses

Current Time

Central Time (CT)
 
 

Prefix Utilization

Geographic Coverage

State

IL

Major Cities

  • Springfield
  • Champaign
  • Decatur
  • Quincy
  • Urbana
  • Danville
  • Jacksonville
  • Charleston
  • Mattoon
  • Chatham
  • Lincoln
  • Rantoul
  • Effingham
  • Taylorville
  • Mahomet
  • Savoy
  • Paris
  • Clinton
  • Litchfield
  • Monticello
  • Mount Zion
  • Beardstown
  • Hillsboro
  • Carlinville

and 327 more cities

Area Code 217 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 217

Area code 217 was established in 1947 as one of the original 86 North American area codes assigned by Bell Laboratories. It has undergone only two boundary changes in its history, making it one of the most geographically stable area codes in the United States. After 64 years without boundary modifications, the 447 overlay was activated in 2021 to serve the same 35-county central Illinois region. Source: Wikipedia

Key milestones:

  • 1947: Created as one of the original 86 area codes by Bell Laboratories (ICC Press Release)
  • 1951: Metro East boundary shift, southern portion reassigned to area code 618 (Wikipedia)
  • 1957: Northern portion (Peoria, Bloomington-Normal) split off as area code 309 (ICC Staff Testimony)
  • 2001: NeuStar petitions ICC for all-services overlay relief under Docket 01-0656 (ICC Staff Testimony)
  • 2006: ICC Interim Order approves overlay; NANPA assigns 447 (ICC Interim Order)
  • 2007: Implementation plan approved with trigger at 50 available CO codes (ICC Final Order)
  • 2019: NANPA PL-532 issued; 447 overlay formally announced after 12-year conservation delay (ICC Press Release)
  • 2021: 447 overlay activated; mandatory 10-digit dialing begins Feb 27; new codes available Mar 27 (Wikipedia)

Area code 217's geographic stability is unusual among original 1947 codes. Most were split or overlaid multiple times, but 217 retained its boundaries for 64 years after the 1957 split, only receiving an overlay in 2021. The 447 overlay was approved in 2006 but delayed by conservation efforts until 2019.

Regulatory History

Area code 217's overlay was managed through ICC Docket 01-0656, spanning from 2001 to 2021. The Illinois Commerce Commission operated under FCC delegated authority, with NeuStar (later Somos) serving as NANPA administrator. The implementation plan included a trigger at 50 available CO codes and a 13-month implementation window. Source: ICC Final Order

YearEventDocketRegulatory Action & Impact
2001Petition filedDocket 01-0656NeuStar petitions ICC for all-services overlay (Alternative No. 4), initiating relief proceeding (ICC Staff Testimony)
2004Public forumsDocket 01-0656Public forums held in Champaign, Danville, Mattoon, Decatur, Jacksonville to gather input (ICC Final Order)
2006Interim Order approvedDocket 01-0656ICC adopts all-services distributed overlay; NANPA assigns 447 NPA; industry directed to delay via conservation (ICC Interim Order)
2007Implementation planDocket 01-0656Final Order and implementation plan approved; trigger at 50 available CO codes; 13-month implementation window (ICC Final Order)
2019Overlay announcedPL-532NANPA Planning Letter issued; 265 rate centers across 35 counties; conservation efforts delayed implementation 12 years (ICC Press Release)
2021Overlay activatedN/AMandatory 10-digit dialing Feb 27; 447 NPA activated Mar 27 for new CO code assignments (Wikipedia)

County Coverage

Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 217).

CountyPopulationShare
Champaign, IL220,98114.6%
Sangamon, IL206,92713.7%
Macon, IL115,8597.6%
Vermilion, IL77,0785.1%
Coles, IL74,6504.9%
Adams, IL71,8404.7%
Montgomery, IL53,9743.6%
Shelby, IL53,9533.6%
Christian, IL52,0273.4%
Morgan, IL44,5712.9%
Moultrie, IL42,7922.8%
Macoupin, IL42,4032.8%
Cumberland, IL41,0352.7%
Scott, IL34,5872.3%
Piatt, IL33,8562.2%
Logan, IL33,7522.2%
Effingham, IL29,9502.0%
Clark, IL28,8071.9%
Edgar, IL28,6391.9%
Douglas, IL25,3531.7%
Pike, IL20,1211.3%
Cass, IL19,8401.3%
Hancock, IL19,7801.3%
Menard, IL16,8161.1%
Ford, IL16,2331.1%
De Witt, IL15,4611.0%
Jasper, IL13,1070.9%
Schuyler, IL12,1500.8%
Greene, IL11,9270.8%
McLean, IL9,8740.7%
Iroquois, IL9,4490.6%
Brown, IL7,9380.5%
Fayette, IL5,2260.3%
Bond, IL4,3120.3%
Mason, IL4,2780.3%
Henderson, IL3,6180.2%
Crawford, IL2,9370.2%
Madison, IL2,6350.2%
Clay, IL2,3360.2%
McDonough, IL1,6170.1%
Livingston, IL1,1070.1%
Calhoun, IL9470.1%
Tazewell, IL6080.0%
Jersey, IL3470.0%

Area Code 217 Family Tree

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217447
2
Total Codes
0
Splits
1
Overlays
1
Max Depth

All Descendants

Code ▲StateType In Service Parent
447ILoverlay27-Mar-2021217

Area code 217 was originally assigned in 01-Jan-1947 to serve IL. Over the years, it has generated 1 descendant area code through a combination of geographic splits and overlays as demand for telephone numbers grew.

Call Context

Mixed urban-rural area

This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across IL, with Springfield as a primary city.

Nearby Area Codes

Area codes geographically closest to 217.

Area code 309 map card showing Peoria (light mode)
309ILPeoriaCentral Time (CT)Geographic
Area code 861 map card showing Peoria (light mode)
861ILPeoriaCentral Time (CT)Overlay
Area code 314 map card showing St. Louis (light mode)
314MOSt. LouisCentral Time (CT)Geographic
Area code 557 map card showing St. Louis (light mode)
557MOSt. LouisCentral Time (CT)Overlay
Area code 618 map card showing Belleville (light mode)
618ILBellevilleCentral Time (CT)Geographic
Area code 730 map card showing Belleville (light mode)
730ILBellevilleCentral Time (CT)Overlay
Area code 636 map card showing O'Fallon (light mode)
636MOO'FallonCentral Time (CT)Split

Other Area Codes in Illinois

Area codes that also serve Illinois, linked for easy comparison.