Area Code 228

Mississippi

Area code 228 serves Mississippi, primarily Gulfport, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It was created from a split of area code 601.

Split Area Code

This area code was created by splitting an existing area code into separate geographic regions. When a split occurs, some customers in the original area code region are assigned the new area code.

This area code was split from area code 601 (Jackson).

In service since: 15-Sep-1997

Learn more about overlay and split area codes →

Demographics & Economics

Total Population: 476,197
Population Density: 200 people/sq mi
above U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
Median Household Income: $57,233
below U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
Poverty Rate: 15.8%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
Unemployment Rate: 7.3%
above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
Education Attainment: Bachelor's Degree+
24.9%
below U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)
High School or Lower
32.2%

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 Statistics dashboard.

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

Major Cities

Gulfport
Biloxi
Pascagoula
Gautier
Ocean Springs
Long Beach
D'Iberville
Moss Point
Bay St. Louis
Diamondhead
Gulf Hills
St. Martin
Waveland
Gulf Park Estates
Latimer
Pass Christian
Vancleave
Escatawpa
Kiln
Lyman
DeLisle
Wade
Hurley
Pearlington

and 5 more cities

Area Code 228 geographic coverage map (light mode)

Historical Timeline of Area Code 228

Area code 228 was created on September 15, 1997, as a geographic split from Mississippi's original area code 601, covering the Gulf Coast region of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. It was the second area code in Mississippi and the 215th assigned in the North American Numbering Plan (Wikipedia). Unlike neighboring area codes 601/769 and 662/471, area code 228 has never received an overlay and continues to support 7-digit local dialing.

Key milestones:

1947: Area code 601 created as one of the original 86 North American area codes, serving the entire state of Mississippi.
September 15, 1997: Area code 228 created as a geographic split from 601, covering Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties along the Gulf Coast. Mississippi PSC approved under FCC delegated authority (47 C.F.R. § 52.19). BellSouth Telecommunications designated as incumbent LEC. One of 43 area codes introduced in 1997; the 215th assigned in the NANP. (AllAreaCodes)
1999: Area code 662 created as the second geographic split from 601, covering northern Mississippi.
2004: Area code 769 overlaid on 601 for central Mississippi. Mandatory 10-digit dialing began March 14, 2005. Area code 228 was explicitly excluded from this overlay and retained 7-digit local dialing. (NANPA PL-335)
2022: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline implementation required 10-digit dialing in areas with 988-XXXX prefixes. Area code 228 retained 7-digit dialing as it does not allocate 988-XXXX prefixes.
2024: Mississippi PSC approved all-services distributed overlay for 662 NPA (Docket 2023-AD-0149). A boundary elimination overlay that would have merged 228 with other Mississippi NPAs was rejected. Area code 228 remains unaffected. (Mississippi PSC)

Area code 228's creation in 1997 was driven by telecommunications growth along the Gulf Coast, a region anchored by Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. The Mississippi Public Service Commission exercised authority delegated under 47 C.F.R. § 52.19 to approve the split, following NANPA planning recommendations. The 2024 PSC decision on 662 explicitly preserved 228's boundaries and 7-digit dialing status, confirming no relief planning is needed for this code.

Regulatory History

Area code 228's regulatory history spans four key actions over 27 years, from the FCC's 1997 delegation of numbering authority to state commissions, through the 2024 Mississippi PSC decision that preserved 228's boundaries. The code was created under authority delegated to state commissions under 47 C.F.R. § 52.19, and all subsequent regulatory actions affecting 228 have been handled at the state level by the Mississippi Public Service Commission. (Mississippi PSC)

Year	Event	Docket	Regulatory Action & Impact
1997	Delegated authority	CC Docket No. 96-45	FCC delegated authority to state commissions to implement new area codes under 47 C.F.R. § 52.19. Mississippi PSC used this authority to approve the 601 split creating 228.
1997	Split approval	NANP-Split of 601	Mississippi PSC approved the geographic split of area code 601 creating area code 228 for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. BellSouth Telecommunications designated as incumbent LEC. (AllAreaCodes)
2004	769 overlay exclusion	Docket 2001-AD-68	MPSC approved all-services distributed overlay of area code 769 on area code 601. Mandatory 10-digit dialing for 601/769 began March 14, 2005. Area code 228 was explicitly excluded. (NANPA PL-335)
2024	662 overlay approval	Docket 2023-AD-0149	MPSC approved all-services distributed overlay for area code 662 (overlay code 471). A boundary elimination alternative that would have merged all Mississippi NPAs including 228 was rejected. Area code 228 remains unaffected. (Mississippi PSC)