The 802 area code is a telephone prefix associated with the New England state of Vermont. This codification serves the entire state’s territory and is the only numbering plan area activated in Vermont.
Vermont is one of 12 U.S. states with a single area code. This list is compounded by Alaska, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Washington D.C, amount others. In this way, this only codification has the responsibility to support all the telecommunication systems of the region.
Located in the Eastern Daylight time zone, Vermont State is constituted by 14 counties and 255 incorporated municipalities, including 237 towns, 9 cities, 5 unincorporated areas, and 4 gores, all of them covered by the 802 area code.
1. History
The 802 area code is one of the 86 original prefixes of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) created for AT&T and the Bell System. Introduced in October 1947, this codification has served the whole Vermont area for more than 7 decades.
Since its activation, seven-digit dialing has been mandatory in the state. However, this telephone dialing procedure will be eliminated in October 2021, making necessary a transition to ten-digit dialing.
2. Location
Admitted to the union on March 4, 1791, as the 14th state, Vermont belongs to the New England region of the U.S. it delimits the Canadian province of Quebec to the north, Massachusetts to the south, New York to the west, and New Hampshire to the east.
Encompassing a population estimated at 64k inhabitants; Vermont is the second-least populous of the nation and the 6th smallest by total area covering nearly 9,616 square miles. Being one of the six New England states, it lies in the northeastern corner of the U.S.
On the other hand, the largest urban area of the state is the Burlington metropolitan area, which encloses three of the 14 Vermont counties including Chittenden, the most populous county of the state.
The 802 area code covers nearly 9614.43 square miles and contains 309 non-unique postal area zip codes.
Adjacent codes
As it was explained before, the 802 area code is the only activated numbering plan area of Vermont State. However, this state also received the central office code 988 that is a nationwide prefix designated for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Some of the prefixes serving the adjacent zones of Vermont are the 718 area code and its overlays 347, 917, and 929. These codifications correspond to New York City and surround King, Queens, Bronx, Richmond, and New York counties. For its part, the 718 code is the most populous of the state covering 6.7 of the state’s 20.4 million residents.
Bordering the east section of Vermont is New Hampshire that functions with the prefix 603. Just like Vermont, this state disposes of a single codification for the entire region. The 603 area code is also one of the 86 original numbers installed in 1947 and covers nearly 9266.76 square miles.
3. Most Important Cities in the 802 Area Code
Burlington
Located 94 miles south of the Canadian city of Montreal, Burlington lies on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, north of Shelburne Bay.
This city is the county seat of Chittenden County. At the present, it is the state’s most populous city with an estimated population of around 42k residents.
The city’s incorporation dates from 1865. Currently, Burlington is a regional college town that owns some of the most important educational centers of the state, such as the University of Vermont, Champlain College, and University of Vermont Medical Center. This last institution is the largest employer of the city.
Burlington surrounds 15.49 square miles and disposes of 5 non-unique Zipcodes: 05401, 05402, 05405, 05406, and 05408.
South Burlington
Incorporated as a town in 1865 and as a city in 1971, the South Burlington territory was first established by the Province of New Hampshire. Forming part of Chittenden County, this city is one of the main municipalities of the Burlington metro area, which represents the industrial center of Vermont.
Located in the western section of the county, it is bordered by Winooski, Colchester, Essex, Williston, Burlington, and Shelburne Bay on Lake Champlain. Encompassing over 19k inhabitants, it is the third-most populous city of Vermont and the second extensive territory covering 29.58 square miles.
Currently, South Burlington has 2 non-unique Zipcodes: 05403, and 05407.
Essex
Situated in Chittenden County, Essex is the second most populous city of the state and Vermont’s largest municipality in terms of total area, enclosing over 21k residents that sprawl across 39.3 square miles.
Incorporated on June 7, 1763, this city is located in the central section of the county, and delimits Colchester, Milton, Westford, Underhill, and Jericho.
Covered by the area code 802, Essex postal service is compounded by 2 non-unique ZIP codes: 05451, and 05452.
4. Other Important Locations and ZIP Codes of the 802 Area Code
The 802 area code covers the full Vermont territory; including its 14 counties:
- Chittenden County: it is the most populous county of Vermont with a population of around 162k residents that represent a quarter of the state’s population. Its largest city and county seat is Burlington and possesses 26 ZIP codes.
- Rutland County: founded in 1781, it covers a total area of 945 square miles and encompasses nearly 58k inhabitants. Its largest city and county seat is Rutland and disposes of 30 ZIP codes.
- Washington County: this county is home to Montpelier, the least populous city-state capital of the nation. Currently, it encompasses a population estimated at 58k residents, being the third-most populous of the state. It surrounds nearly 695 square miles and owns 31 ZIP codes.
Main Postal and Shipping Services
- Post Office, Fairfax, VT, - +1 802-524-1110
- North Clarendon Post Office, North Clarendon, VT, - +1 802-773-7893
- Dorset Post Office, Dorset, VT, - +1 802-867-5501
- American Legion Post, Colchester, VT, - +1 802-872-7633
FAQs
How many cities cover the 802 area code?
The 802 area code serves 9 cities and 237 towns in Vermont.
What is the overlay for the 802 area code?
The 802 area code is the only prefix of the state and has no overlay.