Area Code 302
Delaware
Area code 302 serves Delaware, primarily Wilmington, in the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.
Historical Timeline of Area Code 302
Area code 302 was created on January 1, 1947 as one of the original 86 North American area codes. It has served the entire state of Delaware continuously for nearly 80 years without a split or overlay, making it one of the longest-unchanged NPAs in the North American Numbering Plan. Source: NANPA
Key milestones:
- 1947: Created as one of the original 86 area codes by AT&T/Bell System. The middle digit "0" in 302 designated it for a single-NPA state, covering all of Delaware from day one. Source: NANPA
- 1951: Among early NPAs accessible via automated toll switching during the first commercial Direct Distance Dialing trials in Englewood, NJ. Source: Wikipedia
- 1981: Delaware Financial Center Development Act signed by Gov. Pierre S. du Pont IV, attracting major banks and credit card operations (MBNA, Chase, Barclays, Discover) to Wilmington. This drove telecom demand growth without requiring a split. Source: Delaware General Assembly
- 2002 (Delaware PSC): Holly Oak rate center began thousands-block number pooling on May 16, 2002, as part of NANPA's numbering conservation measures.
- 2020 (FCC): FCC adopted Order 20-100 (July 16, 2020) designating 988 as the three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline code. Area code 302 was among 82 NPAs affected due to its existing 302-988 exchange in Selbyville.
- 2021: Delaware PSC announced mandatory 10-digit dialing transition. Permissive dialing began April 24, 2021; mandatory dialing enforced October 24, 2021. Source: Delaware PSC
- 2025: NANPA projects 302 will exhaust in Q3 2036, revised from an earlier Q2 2034 projection. Approximately 655 of ~792 usable prefixes are assigned (82.7% capacity). Source: NANPA 2025-2 NRUF
Area code 302's uninterrupted service since 1947 reflects Delaware's position as one of roughly 11 US states still served by a single area code. The state absorbed decades of growth, including a major banking boom in the 1980s and 1990s, without requiring a split or overlay.
Unique Facts About Area Code 302
Delaware has maintained a single area code (302) since January 1, 1947 because its moderate population of approximately 1.1 million, combined with numbering conservation measures like thousands-block pooling, has kept prefix demand within 302's capacity. Source: NANPA 2025-2 NRUF
- Continuous single-NPA service since 1947: Area code 302 has covered the entire state of Delaware for nearly 80 years without a split or overlay, representing one of the longest uninterrupted tenures of any area code in the North American Numbering Plan. Source: NANPA
- One of roughly 11 single-NPA states: Delaware is one of approximately 11 US states still served by a single area code. The state absorbed decades of population and economic growth without requiring a split. Source: NANPA 2025-2 NRUF
- Financial Center Development Act impact: The 1981 Financial Center Development Act attracted major credit card and banking operations (MBNA, Chase, Barclays, Discover) to Wilmington. The resulting telecom demand growth was absorbed without requiring a split. Source: Delaware General Assembly
- Q3 2036 exhaust projection: NANPA projects area code 302 will exhaust in Q3 2036, revised upward from an earlier Q2 2034 projection. As of October 2025, approximately 655 of ~792 usable prefixes (NXX 200-999) are assigned, representing 82.7% utilization. Source: NANPA 2025-2 NRUF
- LATA 228 shared with Philadelphia: Delaware shares LATA 228 with Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Valley. Calls between Wilmington and Philadelphia are routed as local despite crossing state lines. Source: Wikipedia
FCC Regulatory History
FCC Order 20-100 (July 2020) designated 988 as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, requiring area code 302 to transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing by October 24, 2021. The existing 302-988 exchange in Selbyville, Delaware was among 82 NPAs affected nationwide. Source: Delaware PSC
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 988 Lifeline Designation | FCC 20-100 | Designated 988 as abbreviated dialing code for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Required all area codes with working 988 NXX to transition to 10-digit dialing by July 16, 2022. Area code 302 affected due to existing 302-988 exchange in Selbyville. |
| 2021 | 10-Digit Dialing Transition | NANPA PL-556 | Established implementation schedule for mandatory 10-digit dialing across 82 area codes including 302. Permissive dialing began April 24, 2021; mandatory cutover October 24, 2021. Source: NANPA |
| 2021 | State Implementation | Delaware PSC | Delaware PSC announced state-level implementation of FCC 20-100 on April 12, 2021. Affected equipment included medical alert devices, alarm systems, PBXs, fax machines, and speed dialers. Source: Delaware PSC |
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,110,160
- Population Density
- 434 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $89,901above U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 10.9%below U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.1%near U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+34.8%near U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower32.5%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
DE
Major Cities
- Wilmington
- Dover
- Newark
- Middletown
- Bear
- Glasgow
- Brookside
- Hockessin
- Smyrna
- Milford
- Pike Creek Valley
- Claymont
- Seaford
- North Star
- Wilmington Manor
- Georgetown
- Pike Creek
- Millsboro
- Edgemoor
- Elsmere
- New Castle
- Rising Sun-Lebanon
- Clayton
- Laurel
and 55 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 302).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New Castle, DE | 605,574 | 54.5% |
| Sussex, DE | 269,406 | 24.3% |
| Kent, DE | 209,394 | 18.9% |
| Dorchester, MD | 25,786 | 2.3% |
Call Context
This area code covers a metropolitan region in DE with moderate to high population density, centered on Wilmington and surrounding communities.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 302.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 302 and how phone numbering works.
NANPA original 86 area codes list, Wikipedia — List of original NANP area codes. 302 assigned to Delaware (entire state) with middle digit 0 indicating single-NPA status.
NANPA 2025-1 NRUF and NPA Exhaust Analysis, April 2025. Revised from earlier Q2 2034 projection.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 302 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1110k people covers Newark in DE, so a number originally set up there will retain the 302 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 302 is associated with Newark in DE. 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.
While Newark is a prominent city in this area code's coverage, the code serves the broader surrounding region as well. Area codes are assigned geographically and typically cover multiple cities, towns, and communities beyond any single anchor city.