Area Code 907: Why Alaska Has Just One Area Code

The Largest State, One Code

Area code 907 covers the entire state of Alaska — all 663,268 square miles of it. That makes it the geographically largest area code in the United States, serving a territory bigger than the next three largest states combined. Yet despite its massive footprint, Alaska has never needed a second area code.

Why Population Density Is What Matters

Area codes run out of numbers based on population, not geography. Alaska has approximately 740,000 residents — fewer than most mid-sized American cities. With such a small population spread across an enormous area, demand for telephone numbers remains low enough that a single area code has always been sufficient.

Compare this to a state like New Jersey, which has around 9 million people crammed into a much smaller area and consequently requires multiple area codes to handle the number demand.

When Was 907 Created?

Area code 907 was assigned to Alaska in 1957, after Alaska was on the path to statehood (it became the 49th state in 1959). Before that, Alaska was served under a different numbering arrangement. The 907 code has been in continuous service since then with no splits or overlays required.

Alaska and the NANP

Alaska is part of the North American Numbering Plan, meaning calls to and from Alaska use the same +1 country code as the rest of the US. From a telephone routing perspective, calling Anchorage is treated no differently than calling any other US city — despite the fact that Anchorage sits over 1,000 miles from the nearest US state border.

The Future of 907

Given Alaska's relatively stable population growth, 907 is not considered at risk of exhaustion any time soon. It remains one of the few original 1947-era area codes that has never been split or had an overlay added — a testament to the unique demographic character of America's last frontier.