Area code 417

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Area code 417 covers the southwestern part of Missouri, including Springfield, Joplin, Branson, Ozark, Nixa, Lebanon, Neosho, Carthage, West Plains, and nearby towns. It was created in 1950 as Missouri’s third area code, mainly taking the southern half of the older 816 territory. When the North American Numbering Plan started in 1947, Missouri was split into two zones: 816 in the north and west, and 314 in the east around St. Louis. The 417 code was added to serve southwestern Missouri. Despite Springfield being a large city, the area remains sparsely populated for its code. Forecasts now suggest no new area code will be needed for southwest Missouri until about 2037. Before October 2021, 417 allowed seven-digit local dialing, but in 2020 the 988 number was designated for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, so the region moved to ten-digit dialing by October 24, 2021.