Long Beach area code: What You Need to Know Before Calling
If you’ve ever gotten a call from a number with the 562 area code, you’re probably talking to someone in or around Long Beach, California.
The 562 area code mainly covers Long Beach and some nearby parts of southeastern Los Angeles County and northern Orange County. This code is unique to the area and connects people who live, work, or have family in this coastal city.
Knowing the local area code helps you spot local calls, set up a business presence, or just understand more about the community. Whether you live in Long Beach or just wonder about the 562 number, there’s a bit more to this area code than you might expect.
What Is the Long Beach Area Code?
The main area code for Long Beach is 562. This code covers several cities and neighborhoods in both Los Angeles County and Orange County. Knowing the area code can help you recognize local calls and find businesses in the region.
Overview of Area Code 562
Area code 562 came about in 1997 when it split from the 310 area code. Since then, it’s been the main code for Long Beach and several nearby places. If you see a 562 number, it’s tied to southeastern Los Angeles County and parts of northern Orange County.
Long Beach is the most well-known spot in the 562 area, but you’ll spot this code in other cities too. Why does this matter? When you get a call from a 562 number, you’re likely hearing from someone or a business in this part of Southern California.
The code helps people know what region a number is from and can make it easier to keep calls organized.
Cities and Neighborhoods Covered
The 562 area code isn’t just for Long Beach. It also covers cities like Lakewood, Downey, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier, and Paramount, plus some smaller neighborhoods and unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County.
Here’s a quick list of main cities in the 562 area code:
| City | County |
|---|---|
| Long Beach | Los Angeles |
| Lakewood | Los Angeles |
| Paramount | Los Angeles |
| Norwalk | Los Angeles |
| Downey | Los Angeles |
| Whittier | Los Angeles |
| Pico Rivera | Los Angeles |
Origins and Changes Over Time to Area Code
Area codes in California started in 1947, set by AT&T’s nationwide plan. At first, only a few codes covered huge regions. The 213 area code was one of the originals and included much of Southern California, not just Los Angeles.
California kept growing, so the state needed more area codes. The California Public Utilities Commission manages these changes. When you look at the Long Beach real estate, you’ll notice several updates because of growth in population and technology.
The arrival of cell phones, fax machines, and pagers kept pushing up the need for new codes. New codes like 310 and 562 emerged as areas split to keep up with the demand.
Split from Area Code 310 & 213
In January 1997, the 310 area code split, creating the 562 area code for Long Beach and cities nearby like Lakewood, Norwalk, and Cerritos. This split happened because 310 was running out of available numbers due to both population growth and more devices needing their own phone lines.
When the split happened, many people had to change their phone numbers. For businesses and residents, it meant updating contacts, letterheads, and advertisements. You might remember having to adjust to dialing new prefixes or explaining the change to friends and family.
The 213 area code originally covered a massive part of Southern California, including Long Beach. Over time, as regions grew, 213 shrank in size and became mostly focused on downtown Los Angeles.
Table: Main Cities in Area Code 310 & 424
| City | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Beverly Hills real estate | 310 / 424 |
| Santa Monica | 310 / 424 |
| West Los Angeles | 310 / 424 |
| Malibu Homes | 310 / 424 |
Comparison with Other California Area Codes
California area codes cover a huge range, from 209 in Central California to 415 in San Francisco and 408 in San Jose. Long Beach’s 562 is just one piece of this giant puzzle.
Area codes like 213, 310, and 323 sit right next to 562. Others, such as 657 and 714, cover parts of Orange County, which isn’t far from Long Beach. If you travel for work or visit family around Southern California, you’ll probably use more than one of these area codes.
Each code marks a certain region, but counties and cities overlap a lot. The city of Los Angeles itself uses 213, 323, 310, and 424. Long Beach sees numbers from both 562 and neighboring area codes.
List of Notable Neighboring Area Codes:
- 213 (Downtown LA)
- 310 (Beverly Hills, West LA, coastal cities)
- 323 (Hollywood, East LA)
- 424 (Overlay for 310)
- 657, 714 (Parts of Orange County near Long Beach)
