The 228 area code serves the Gulf Coast of southern Mississippi, including Biloxi, Gulfport, and Pascagoula. It covers Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties, runs on Central Time, and has been in service since September 15, 1997. There is currently no overlay, so it’s the only area code for the region, and 7-digit local dialing is still available.
What Is the 228 Area Code?
The area code 228 serves the Gulf Coast of southern Mississippi. It covers Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, and the surrounding area across Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties.
Where Is the 228 Area Code Located?
Area code 228 location in usa covers the southeastern tip of Mississippi along the Gulf of Mexico, commonly known as the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It’s a single, non-overlaid area code, meaning every landline and mobile number in this region uses 228, with no shared or secondary code.
Major cities served
History of the 228 Area Code
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Went into service | September 15, 1997 |
| Split from | Area code 601 (Mississippi’s original statewide code) |
| Reason for creation | Number exhaustion in 601 |
| Order in Mississippi | 2nd area code assigned to the state |
| Total Mississippi area codes today | 4 (228, 601, 662, 769) |
Before 1997, all of Mississippi used a single area code: 601. As phone number demand grew, driven by pagers, fax lines, and a second wave of cell phones, the state was split. The Gulf Coast counties became 228, while the rest of the state kept 601. Two years later, in 1999, the northern half of the state split off again to form 662. Jackson, the state capital, later received an overlay code, 769, in 2001.
Is 228 Still the Only Area Code for the Gulf Coast?
Yes. As of 2026, phone area code 228 has no overlay. Numbering exhaustion projections from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) show that this region isn’t expected to need a second code for the foreseeable future, largely because the population and number of new prefixes requested each year remain modest compared to fast-growing metro areas.
What Time Zone Is 228?
The area 228 operates on Central Time (CT), CST (UTC-6) in winter and CDT (UTC-5) during daylight saving time, which runs from early March to early November.
Is a Call From 228 a Scam?
Not inherently. 228 is a standard, legitimate U.S. domestic area code tied to a real geographic region (Mississippi’s Gulf Coast); it is not one of the international “spoof” codes scammers use to disguise overseas numbers (those are typically Caribbean codes like 809, 284, 876, or 649, which look domestic but connect internationally).
How to Get a 228 Phone Number
If you want a Mississippi Gulf Coast presence for a business, second line, or local number, you have a few options:
228 vs. Nearby Mississippi Area Codes
| Area Code | Region Covered | Year Activated |
|---|---|---|
| 228 | Gulf Coast (Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula) | 1997 |
| 601 | Central/Southwest Mississippi (Jackson metro, Hattiesburg) | Original (1947) |
| 662 | Northern Mississippi (Tupelo, Southaven) | 1999 |
| 769 | Overlay for the Jackson metro area | 2001 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion
The 228 area code is a straightforward, single-region code covering Mississippi’s Gulf Coast: Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, and the surrounding Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. It’s been in continuous use since 1997, runs on Central Time, has no overlay, and shows no signs of needing one anytime soon, given the region’s modest growth in demand.
