When you see a phone number in the United States, the area code at the beginning gives you a rough idea of where the person lives and what neighborhood they are in.

This is especially true in LA. Because LA is such a large city, there are more than just a couple of area codes.

People often just refer to it as LA, but in reality, the area codes differ from neighborhood to neighborhood.

The first one to mention is 213. This is the "original" code. It's like the starting number for LA.

There was a time when all of California used to have just 213. Now, since that can't be used anymore, it has been split up.

Currently, it is mostly found in central areas like Downtown LA and Koreatown. So, when you see a 213 number, it gives off a certain vibe.

It has a bit of an "old business" or "established feel" to it. Especially in Koreatown, many businesses still use 213.

They don't want to change it for no reason. It serves as a kind of sign showing a long history.

Next is 323. This is like a sibling number that split off from 213.

It covers areas outside of Downtown, such as East Hollywood, South LA, and Boyle Heights.

Simply put, it's one layer outside of 213. If you live near Koreatown, there's a high chance your number is either 213 or 323.

So, it's convenient to think of these two together.

Now the vibe changes a bit. When you see 310, you might think, "Oh, this person is doing pretty well?"

This code covers the Westside areas like Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu, and Torrance.

It's by the ocean, in nice neighborhoods, and where housing prices are high. So, the 310 number has a bit of a premium image.

Of course, these days, homelessness has spread to this area too, so the meaning isn't as absolute as it used to be, but the vibe still remains.

However, 310 alone has become insufficient. That's why 424 was introduced. This shares the same area as 310.

Simply put, it's "the same neighborhood but with a new number." So, there are people in the Westside who use either 310 or 424.

These days, if you get a new number, you're likely to receive a 424. So, just because it's 424 doesn't mean the neighborhood is different.

Now, moving over to the Valley, we have 818. This covers the San Fernando Valley, including Burbank, Glendale, and North Hollywood.

Glendale, where many Koreans live, is included here. So, there are quite a few Koreans with 818 numbers.

As the population grew, 747 was added. This is in the same area as 818.

These days, many new numbers are coming out as 747. So, if you get a new number in the Valley, you might often see, "Oh? It's 747."

If you go east, there's 626. This is in the San Gabriel Valley, covering areas like Pasadena, Alhambra, Monterey Park, and Rowland Heights.

This area has a lot of Chinese and Korean residents, so you often see 626 in Korean businesses.

This area has its own cultural vibe. The food and atmosphere are quite different.

Going further south, we have 562. This covers Long Beach, Downey, and Whittier. It has a port-like feel.

There are also quite a few Koreans living in Downey, so you sometimes see people with 562 numbers.

Knowing this much covers the basics. But there's one more important point.

Spam calls. You can often get a sense of it from the area code.

If you receive a call from the same area code as where you live, you might think, "Oh? Is this someone I know?" But these days, spammers use that to their advantage.

They change their number to match your area code. So, you can't just trust a number based on the area code alone.

Also, there's something that newcomers to LA often get confused about.

When making a call, you have to dial all 10 digits, including the area code. If you only dial 7 digits like before, it won't connect.

Even within LA, if the area codes are different, they are considered completely different regions. Many people initially don't know this and wonder, "Why isn't the call going through?"

In LA, a phone number is not just a means of contact; it also carries a bit of 'location information.'

Knowing where someone lives and what neighborhood they're in, you can find that even a single number has its own story.