Area Code 272
Pennsylvania
Area code 272 serves Pennsylvania, primarily Scranton, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It is an overlay area code sharing territory with area code 570.
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 570 (Scranton).
In service since: 21-Oct-2013
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 2,215,076
- Population Density
- 103 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 93 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $64,691below U.S. median (U.S.: $75,144)
- Poverty Rate
- 12.7%above U.S. average (U.S.: 11.5%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.3%above U.S. average (U.S.: 3.6%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+24.6%below U.S. average (U.S.: 33.7%)High School or Lower43.1%
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
- Eastern Time (ET)
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
Prefix Utilization
Geographic Coverage
State
PA
Major Cities
- Scranton
- Wilkes-Barre
- Hazleton
- Williamsport
- Dunmore
- Pottsville
- Kingston
- Bloomsburg
- Mountain Top
- Nanticoke
- Berwick
- Sunbury
- East Stroudsburg
- Carbondale
- Old Forge
- Lock Haven
- Pittston
- Archbald
- Tamaqua
- Shamokin
- Arlington Heights
- Blakely
- Milton
- Taylor
and 388 more cities
Historical Timeline of Area Code 272
Area code 272 was activated October 21, 2013 as an all-services distributed overlay of area code 570 in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania PUC approved the overlay unanimously on July 15, 2010, after NANPA projected 570 would exhaust its prefixes by Q3 2011. Mandatory ten-digit dialing began September 21, 2013, with new 272 numbers assigned starting the following month. Source: PA PUC
Key milestones:
- 1947: AT&T organized the North American Numbering Plan. Pennsylvania received four area codes: 215, 412, 717, and 814. Area code 717 covered the eastern half of the state.
- 1998: The PA PUC approved a geographic split of 717 to create 570 for northeastern Pennsylvania (PUC Order May 21, 1998; NANPA PL-136). Permissive dialing began December 5, 1998.
- 2000: An all-services overlay petition was filed July 19, 2000, after NANPA projected 570 would exhaust in Q1 2002. The petition was later dismissed when number conservation measures extended 570's lifespan.
- 2009: NANPA projected 570 exhaust in Q3 2011. The industry chose an all-services distributed overlay over two split alternatives.
- 2010: The PUC voted 5-0 on July 15 to approve the 272 overlay (Docket P-2009-2117193). NANPA designated "272" as the overlay code.
- 2012: On December 22, the PUC modified the implementation schedule, extending the permissive dialing period from 3 to 6 months. Source: PA Bulletin Doc. 12-2510
- 2013: March 28: permissive dialing commenced. September 21: mandatory ten-digit dialing. October 21: 272 overlay activated with new numbers assigned.
Area code 272's creation reflects a broader shift toward overlays over geographic splits in North American numbering policy, preserving existing number assignments for residents of 570 while expanding available numbering resources across northeastern Pennsylvania's 22-county region.
Regulatory History
Area code 272 has been governed by Pennsylvania PUC Docket P-2009-2117193, with the overlay approved July 15, 2010 and implementation schedule modified December 22, 2012. NANPA formalized the overlay via Planning Letter PL-451 on April 2, 2013. The regulatory timeline spans from the original 570 creation in 1998 through 272 activation in 2013. Source: PA Bulletin Doc. 12-2510
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 570 NPA Created | P-00961071 | PA PUC approved geographic split of 717 to create 570 for northeastern Pennsylvania (Order May 21, 1998). NANPA PL-136 formalized the split July 31, 1998. |
| 1998 | NANPA Planning Letter | PL-136 | NANPA issued PL-136 documenting the 570 split from 570. Permissive dialing began December 5, 1998; mandatory dialing April 8, 1999. |
| 2000 | Overlay Petition Filed and Dismissed | P-2009-2117193 | Industry petition filed July 19, 2000, seeking overlay after NANPA projected 570 exhaust in Q1 2002. Later dismissed when 1,000-block pooling and NXX reclamation extended 570's lifespan. |
| 2010 | Overlay Approved | P-2009-2117193 | PA PUC voted 5-0 to approve all-services distributed overlay. NANPA designated "272" as the overlay code. Original schedule: network prep by March 1, 2011; 3-month permissive dialing period. |
| 2012 | Implementation Schedule Modified | Doc. 12-2510 | PUC extended permissive dialing from 3 to 6 months after joint carrier petition. Source: PA Bulletin |
| 2013 | NANPA Formalization | PL-451 | NANPA issued PL-451 on April 2, 2013, formalizing the 272 overlay of 570. Permissive dialing commenced March 28; mandatory ten-digit dialing began September 21. |
| 2013 | 272 Overlay Activated | P-2009-2117193 | Area code 272 activated October 21, 2013. New numbers assigned in the 272 overlay across northeastern Pennsylvania. Source: PA PUC |
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 272).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Luzerne, PA | 396,767 | 17.9% |
| Lackawanna, PA | 247,441 | 11.2% |
| Monroe, PA | 167,972 | 7.6% |
| Schuylkill, PA | 159,863 | 7.2% |
| Lycoming, PA | 155,294 | 7.0% |
| Northumberland, PA | 122,789 | 5.5% |
| Columbia, PA | 122,690 | 5.5% |
| Wayne, PA | 111,955 | 5.1% |
| Montour, PA | 90,978 | 4.1% |
| Pike, PA | 90,794 | 4.1% |
| Carbon, PA | 77,258 | 3.5% |
| Bradford, PA | 68,668 | 3.1% |
| Susquehanna, PA | 66,940 | 3.0% |
| Sullivan, PA | 61,999 | 2.8% |
| Wyoming, PA | 60,459 | 2.7% |
| Union, PA | 59,857 | 2.7% |
| Clinton, PA | 47,144 | 2.1% |
| Tioga, PA | 45,857 | 2.1% |
| Snyder, PA | 38,028 | 1.7% |
| Lebanon, PA | 9,444 | 0.4% |
| Northampton, PA | 4,572 | 0.2% |
| Juniata, PA | 3,047 | 0.1% |
| Centre, PA | 2,815 | 0.1% |
| Dauphin, PA | 1,820 | 0.1% |
| Potter, PA | 602 | 0.0% |
| Clearfield, PA | 23 | 0.0% |
Area Code 272 Family Tree
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Area code 272 was originally assigned in 21-Oct-2013 to serve PA.
Call Context
This area code covers a metropolitan region in PA with moderate to high population density, centered on Scranton and surrounding communities.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 272.
Other Area Codes in Pennsylvania
Area codes that also serve Pennsylvania, linked for easy comparison.