What is 978 area code?

The 978 area code is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the northeastern area of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was created as an overlay area code to relieve congestion in the existing 508 area code, and was officially activated on September 1, 1997.

The 978 area code covers cities and towns in northeastern Massachusetts, including Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Fitchburg, Leominster, Concord, and Marlborough. It also includes parts of the Merrimack Valley, North Shore, and Central Massachusetts regions.

The 978 area code is currently assigned for use in the following counties: Essex, Middlesex, Worcester, and parts of Franklin County. The area code is managed by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and is currently not expected to be split or overlaid in the near future.