Area Code 260
Indiana
Area code 260 serves Indiana, primarily Fort Wayne, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It was created from a split of area code 219.
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 219 (Hammond).
In service since: 15-Jan-2002
Historical Timeline of Area Code 260
Area code 260 was created on January 15, 2002, as part of a three-way geographic split of Indiana's area code 219. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approved the split on June 14, 2001, by a 3-1 vote under Cause No. 41535, and a random drawing on July 11, 2001, assigned area code 260 to the northeast Indiana region including Fort Wayne. Source: IURC Order 41535
Key milestones:
- 1947: The original NANP plan assigned two area codes to Indiana: 317 for the northern two-thirds and 812 for the southern third.
- 1948: The first area code split in NANP history occurred when 317 was cut back to central Indiana, creating 219 for the northern third including Fort Wayne, Gary, South Bend, and Elkhart.
- 1999: The IURC opened an investigation into 219 area code relief after prefix exhaustion became imminent. A rationing procedure was placed in effect in June 1999. (IURC Cause No. 41535)
- June 14, 2001: The IURC approved a three-way geographic split of 219 by a 3-1 vote. The Commission determined trisecting the area would protect customers from expense while providing the longest relief, projected at over 20 years. (IURC Order)
- July 11, 2001: A random drawing at the IURC assigned area codes: 219 retained for northwest Indiana (Gary-Lake County), 260 assigned to northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne), and 574 assigned to north-central Indiana (South Bend-Elkhart). (IURC Drawing Results)
- October 17, 2001: The IURC modified boundaries, moving Ligonier and Cromwell from the 574 region to 260 to keep Noble County whole. Permissive dialing was set for January 15, 2002. (IURC Boundary Order)
- January 15, 2002: Permissive dialing began. Callers in the 260 and 574 regions could use either the old 219 code or the new area code. A recorded message played when the old code was used. (IURC)
- June 14, 2002: Mandatory dialing of area code 260 began. All calls in northeast Indiana required the 260 area code, with a 45-day grace period and recorded reminders. (IURC)
Area code 260 serves the Fort Wayne metropolitan area and surrounding communities across northeast Indiana. The three-way split of 219 addressed prefix exhaustion while creating numbering regions aligned with distinct population centers.
Unique Facts About Area Code 260
What makes area code 260 different from others in the region? Source: Wikipedia
- Inherited the legacy of the first NANP area code split: Area code 260 descends from 219, which was created in 1948 as the first area code split in the North American Numbering Plan. The original split divided Indiana's 317 area code, cutting it back to central Indiana while assigning 219 to the northern third.
- Three-way split decided by lottery: The assignment of area codes 219, 260, and 574 was determined by a random drawing on July 11, 2001, at the IURC. Index cards labeled A, B, and C were placed in envelopes and drawn from a glass bowl to assign each region its area code. (IURC Drawing Results)
- Not affected by the 2021 10-digit dialing transition: Area code 260 was not required to convert for the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline because it already used 10-digit local dialing at its 2002 inception. Only the 219 and 574 area codes in Indiana needed to transition.
- 37-year relief projection: Telecom Indiana projected in 2013 that area code 260 would not need new numbering relief until winter 2039, a 37-year lifespan that exceeded the original 20-year estimate from the split. Number conservation efforts, including 1,000-block pooling implemented in Indiana in 2001, extended the code's longevity.
- Post-split boundary adjustment: The IURC modified the 260/574 boundary after the initial split was approved. On October 17, 2001, Ligonier and Cromwell were moved from the 574 region to 260 to keep Noble County intact within a single area code. (IURC Boundary Order)
FCC Regulatory History
Area code 260 was authorized through FCC-delegated state authority under 47 C.F.R. § 52.19. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the three-way split of 219 in Cause No. 41535, with NANPA issuing planning letters to formalize the assignment. Seven regulatory actions between 1996 and 2001 brought area code 260 into service. Source: 47 C.F.R. § 52.19
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | FCC Delegated Authority | 47 C.F.R. § 52.19 | FCC delegated authority to state commissions to resolve area code relief matters. Indiana IURC exercised this authority in Cause No. 41535. (Cornell LII) |
| 2001 | NANPA Planning Letter | PL-290 | Original planning letter authorizing the three-way split of 219 into 219, 574, and 260. (NANPA) |
| 2001 | IURC Split Approved | Cause No. 41535 | IURC approved the three-way geographic split by a 3-1 vote, designating 260 for northeast Indiana. (IURC Order) |
| 2001 | Random Drawing | Cause No. 41535 | Random drawing assigned 219 (northwest), 260 (northeast/Fort Wayne), and 574 (north-central/South Bend). (IURC) |
| 2001 | Boundary Modification | Cause No. 41535 | Ligonier and Cromwell moved from 574 to 260 to keep Noble County whole. Permissive dialing set for January 15, 2002. (IURC) |
| 2001 | Amended Planning Letter | PL-309 | Amended planning letter reflecting the IURC's October 17, 2001 boundary modifications. (NANPA) |
| 2001 | NXX Code Assignment | Cause No. 41535 | Published complete NXX code lists for the 260 region. Mandatory dialing set for June 14, 2002. (IURC) |
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,118,787
- Population Density
- 151 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $68,839below U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 10.8%below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.2%below U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+24.1%below U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower40.8%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
IN
Major Cities
- Fort Wayne
- Huntington
- New Haven
- Auburn
- Huntertown
- Bluffton
- Wabash
- Kendallville
- Decatur
- Angola
- Garrett
- Portland
- North Manchester
- Ligonier
- Berne
- Leo-Cedarville
- Ossian
- Lagrange
- Albion
- Avilla
- Butler
- Waterloo
- Fremont
- Churubusco
and 85 more cities
Time Zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
Current Time
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 260).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Allen, IN | 445,757 | 39.8% |
| Whitley, IN | 119,122 | 10.6% |
| Noble, IN | 97,932 | 8.8% |
| DeKalb, IN | 80,921 | 7.2% |
| Adams, IN | 61,834 | 5.5% |
| Steuben, IN | 53,561 | 4.8% |
| LaGrange, IN | 52,041 | 4.7% |
| Huntington, IN | 47,231 | 4.2% |
| Wells, IN | 44,374 | 4.0% |
| Wabash, IN | 31,649 | 2.8% |
| Kosciusko, IN | 18,225 | 1.6% |
| Elkhart, IN | 17,697 | 1.6% |
| Miami, IN | 16,475 | 1.5% |
| Jay, IN | 15,649 | 1.4% |
| Randolph, IN | 12,450 | 1.1% |
| Fulton, IN | 2,653 | 0.2% |
| Blackford, IN | 1,216 | 0.1% |
Call Context
This area code covers a metropolitan region in IN with moderate to high population density, centered on Fort Wayne and surrounding communities.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 260.
Other Area Codes in Indiana
Area codes that also serve Indiana, linked for easy comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 260 and how phone numbering works.
IURC Cause No. 41535 — the three-way split was decided by a random lottery drawing on July 11, 2001, using index cards in a glass bowl.
Indiana exercises FCC delegated authority under 47 C.F.R. § 52.19 for area code relief. IURC is the primary regulator.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 260 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1119k people covers Fort Wayne in IN, so a number originally set up there will retain the 260 prefix even if the owner moves or uses VoIP. Mobile phones keep their original number when users relocate, and businesses often adopt local area codes to establish a regional presence.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its geographic context — area code 260 is associated with Fort Wayne in IN. For caller-specific details, use your carrier's caller ID features or check public directories. If you suspect fraud, you can report it to the FTC. To file a complaint about robocalls or spoofed numbers, visit the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. You can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry.
Area codes are sometimes "split" when an existing code runs out of available number combinations. In a split, the original territory is divided geographically, with each portion receiving its own area code. This area code was split from area code 219. See our guide on splits and overlays for details.