What is 219 Area Code?

The 219 area code is one of the original North American area codes, established in 1947. It was created to serve the entire northern third of Indiana, including major cities like South Bend and Fort Wayne. Due to population growth and increased demand for phone numbers, the original 219 territory was split in 2002. 

  • State: Indiana
  • Major Cities: Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, Merrillville, Valparaiso, Michigan City
  • Time Zones: Central Standard Time (CST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST)
  • Established: 1947
  • Overlay Area Codes: None
  • Region Population: Over 1 million
  • Primary Uses: Business, Residential

Regions Covered by 219 Area Code

The 219 area code serves a wide range of cities and communities across several counties in Northwest Indiana, which includes:

Lake County
  • Gary
  • East Chicago
  • Crown Point
  • Highland
  • Whiting
  • Lowell
  • Dyer
  • Schneider
  • Winfield
  • Hammond
  • Merrillville
  • Schererville
  • Munster
  • Griffith
  • Hobart
  • Cedar Lake
  • St. John
  • Lake Station
Porter County
  • Valparaiso
  • Chesterton
  • Kouts
  • Dune Acres
  • Union Mills
  • Ogden Dunes
  • Wheatfield
  • Portage
  • Hebron
  • Porter
  • Burns Harbor
  • Beverly Shores
  • Town of Pines
La Porte County
  • La Porte
  • Wanatah
  • Westville
  • Union Mills
  • Michigan City
  • Kingsbury
  • Hanna
  • Stillwell
Newton County
  • Kentland
  • Morocco
  • Roselawn
  • Mount Ayr
  • Goodland
  • Brook
  • Lake Village
Jasper County
  • Rensselaer
  • Wheatfield
  • Remington
  • Kniman
  • DeMotte
  • Fair Oaks
  • Collegeville
Starke County
  • Knox
  • Hamlet
  • San Pierre
  • North Judson
  • Grovertown
  • Ora
White County
  • Monticello
  • Chalmers
  • Reynolds
  • Buffalo
  • Monon
  • Brookston
  • Idaville
Benton County
  • Fowler
  • Earl Park
  • Otterbein
  • Boswell
  • Ambia
Pulaski County
  • Winamac
  • Francesville
  • Star City
  • Medaryville
  • Monterey

Population & Demographics of 219 Area Code

The 219 area code covers a diverse and densely populated region of Indiana, heavily influenced by its proximity to Chicago. The region has a diverse demographic composition with significant African American, Hispanic, and Eastern European communities. 

The cities of Gary and Hammond have a rich industrial heritage, and the region's economy is strongly tied to manufacturing, steel production, and logistics. The surrounding suburbs and rural areas provide a mix of working-class and affluent communities, creating a varied consumer base for businesses.

219 Area Code Time Zone

The 219 area code is unique because it spans two time zones: Central Time and Eastern Time. The majority of the area, including Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, and Jasper counties, is in the Central Time Zone

However, the eastern counties of White, Pulaski, and Benton observe the Eastern Time Zone. Businesses need to be aware of this distinction to manage call schedules effectively.