Area Code 337
Louisiana
Area code 337 serves Louisiana, primarily Lafayette, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It was created from a split of area code 318.
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 318 (Shreveport).
In service since: 11-Oct-1999
Historical Timeline of Area Code 337
Area code 337 was created on October 11, 1999, as a geographic split from area code 318 to serve southwestern Louisiana, including the Acadiana region and Lake Charles. The code entered permissive dialing immediately and transitioned to mandatory 10-digit dialing on March 13, 2000. A second dialing change occurred in 2021 when the FCC mandated 10-digit dialing for the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline, affecting 337 and requiring Louisiana to issue TIN 21-01. NANPA projects 337 will not exhaust until Q4 2042. Source: NANPA PL-187
Key milestones:
- 1947: Louisiana assigned area code 504 as part of the original 86 North American area codes. According to NANPA records.
- 1957: Area code 318 created in a split from 504, covering most of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River. Source: Wikipedia
- 1999: Area code 337 created on October 11, 1999, as a geographic split from 318, covering southwestern Louisiana (Acadiana and Lake Charles regions). NANPA Planning Letter PL-187 was issued July 28, 1999. Source: NANPA PL-187
- 2000: Mandatory 10-digit dialing for 337 began March 13, 2000, ending the permissive dialing period.
- 2021: Mandatory 10-digit dialing transition for 337 and 504 due to the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline mandate. Permissive dialing began April 24, 2021; mandatory October 24, 2021. Source: Louisiana TIN 21-01
- 2023: LPSC approved area code 457 as an overlay for parent code 318 (Docket U-36659). 337 remains unaffected. Source: LPSC
- 2025: 457 overlay activated for 318 region on September 25, 2025, the first overlay in Louisiana history. 337 remains standalone.
- 2042: NANPA projects 337 number exhaustion in Q4 2042. According to NANPA October 2024 exhaust analysis.
Unique Facts About Area Code 337
Area code 337 covers southwestern Louisiana and has several characteristics within the North American Numbering Plan. Source: Wikipedia
- Standalone code with no overlay: Area code 337 operates without an overlay as of 2025. The code was created as a split from 318 in 1999, and while 318 received the 457 overlay in September 2025, 337 remains unaffected. NANPA projects no relief needed for 337 until Q4 2042. Source: LPSC Docket U-36659
- Covers the Acadiana cultural region: The 337 area includes Lafayette, Opelousas, New Iberia, and Crowley, forming the core of Cajun and Creole heritage in Louisiana. The region maintains French-speaking traditions, zydeco music, and Cajun cuisine including gumbo, boudin, and crawfish. Lafayette hosts Festival International de Louisiane, one of the largest free outdoor music festivals in the United States. Source: Wikipedia
- Projected exhaust in 2042: NANPA's October 2024 exhaust analysis projects area code 337 will not exhaust until Q4 2042. As of early 2025, 565 of 800 possible prefixes are assigned, providing decades of remaining numbering capacity. According to NANPA records.
- Covers Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk): Area code 337 includes Vernon Parish, home to Fort Johnson, a major U.S. Army installation renamed from Fort Polk in 2023 to honor Sergeant William Johnson. The base houses the Joint Readiness Training Center and is one of the largest military installations in the southern United States. According to U.S. Army records.
- Major petrochemical and LNG export hub: The Lake Charles metropolitan area within 337 is one of the nation's top LNG export corridors, with facilities including Cameron LNG and Sabine Pass. Lafayette serves as the oil and gas industry capital of Louisiana, hosting headquarters for numerous energy companies. According to Louisiana Economic Development.
Area code 337's combination of cultural heritage, military presence, and energy industry infrastructure defines the economic and social character of southwestern Louisiana.
FCC Regulatory History
Area code 337 has been affected by five key regulatory actions since its creation in 1999, from the original NANPA planning letter approving the split to the FCC's 988 mandate requiring 10-digit dialing. Source: NANPA PL-187
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Split Approval | PL-187 | NANPA approved the split of 318 NPA creating area code 337 for southwestern Louisiana. Permissive dialing began October 11, 1999; mandatory dialing March 13, 2000. Source: NANPA |
| 2020 | 988 Lifeline Mandate | FCC 20-122 | FCC established 988 as the nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline, requiring area codes with 988 as an assigned central office code (including 337) to transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing by October 24, 2021. Source: FCC |
| 2021 | State Dialing Transition | TIN 21-01 | Louisiana Division of Administration issued notice confirming 10-digit dialing transition for 337 and 504: permissive dialing April 24, 2021; mandatory October 24, 2021. Source: Louisiana Division of Administration |
| 2023 | Parent Code Overlay Approved | U-36659 | LPSC approved area code 457 as an overlay for parent code 318, effective September 25, 2025. First overlay in Louisiana history. Area code 337 not affected. Source: LPSC |
| 2023 | Overlay Formalization | PL-617 | NANPA formalized the 318/457 overlay, referencing PL-188 (related to the original 318/337 split). Confirms 337 remains unaffected by the 457 overlay. According to NANPA PL-617. |
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,572,158
- Population Density
- 58 people/sq mibelow U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $57,811below U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 19.2%above U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.8%above U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+20.9%below U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower43.0%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
LA
Major Cities
- Lafayette
- Lake Charles
- New Iberia
- Sulphur
- Youngsville
- Opelousas
- Broussard
- Crowley
- Moss Bluff
- Abbeville
- Carencro
- DeRidder
- Jennings
- Eunice
- Scott
- Prien
- Fort Polk South
- Breaux Bridge
- Rayne
- Franklin
- Ville Platte
- Leesville
- St. Martinville
- Carlyss
and 76 more cities
Time Zone
- Central Time (CT)
Current Time
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 337).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA | 351,056 | 22.3% |
| Calcasieu, LA | 226,053 | 14.4% |
| Vermilion, LA | 170,459 | 10.8% |
| Iberia, LA | 145,986 | 9.3% |
| St. Landry, LA | 139,632 | 8.9% |
| Acadia, LA | 119,641 | 7.6% |
| St. Martin, LA | 110,775 | 7.0% |
| Vernon, LA | 65,739 | 4.2% |
| Jefferson Davis, LA | 53,250 | 3.4% |
| Evangeline, LA | 51,063 | 3.2% |
| Beauregard, LA | 49,210 | 3.1% |
| Cameron, LA | 38,816 | 2.5% |
| St. Mary, LA | 25,598 | 1.6% |
| Allen, LA | 20,506 | 1.3% |
| Sabine, LA | 3,792 | 0.2% |
| Pointe Coupee, LA | 582 | 0.0% |
Call Context
This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across LA, with Lafayette as a primary city.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 337.
Other Area Codes in Louisiana
Area codes that also serve Louisiana, linked for easy comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 337 and how phone numbering works.
337 remains a standalone area code with no overlay as of 2025. All other Louisiana codes (318/457, 225, 504, 985) either have overlays or were split from 504. NANPA projects no relief needed until 2042.
NANPA October 2024 exhaust analysis projects 337 will not exhaust until Q4 2042.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 337 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1572k people covers Lafayette in LA, so a number originally set up there will retain the 337 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 337 is associated with Lafayette in LA. 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 318. See our guide on splits and overlays for details.