Geographic Coverage & Key Cities

The 817 area code encompasses 32 cities throughout western Dallas-Fort Worth, with Fort Worth serving as its primary hub. Businesses can strengthen their local presence by using a Fort Worth business phone service. You'll find 817 numbers connecting businesses and residents in vibrant communities like Arlington, Grapevine, Euless, Bedford, Hurst, Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, and Weatherford.

Dating back to January 1, 1953, the 817 code has deep roots in Texas telecommunications history. It was primarily created from the original 915 area code, one of the first area codes established in 1947. The 817 area code was introduced to accommodate the growing population and expanding telecommunications needs of the western portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Over time, as demand increased, the 817 territory was further divided, with area code 940 created in 1997, and 254 was also split off to serve other regions. To handle continued growth, the 682 overlay was introduced on October 7, 2000, covering the same geographic territory as 817 and allowing for additional number availability without changing existing numbers.

Key Economic Zones & Business Hubs

  • Major Cities: Fort Worth, Arlington, Grapevine, Euless, Bedford, Hurst, Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, Weatherford
  • Economic Zones: Aerospace and defense corridor, logistics networks, energy production, healthcare districts
  • Business Hubs: Fort Worth downtown, Alliance Airport area, DFW Airport vicinity, defense contractor zones
  • Neighboring Area Codes: 682 (overlay), 214 (central Dallas), 972/469 (northern/eastern suburbs)
  • Strategic Industries: Seven counties: Tarrant, Johnson, Parker, Denton, Dallas, Hood, and Wise, with aerospace, defense, logistics, and manufacturing

Time Zone & Business Impact

The entire 817 region operates on Central Time, following the seasonal shifts between standard time (UTC-6) and daylight saving time (UTC-5). Being in the middle of the country gives businesses in the 817 area a practical advantage; your workday naturally aligns for morning collaboration with East Coast partners and afternoon connections with West Coast teams.

This positioning is particularly valuable for the region's defense contractors, who can easily handle morning calls with the Pentagon and still have sufficient time for late-afternoon discussions with California aerospace partners. AI answering services automatically adapt to these fluctuating hours and seasonal changes, ensuring you never miss critical communications.

Time Zone Advantages

  • Defense Coordination: Perfect alignment for morning Pentagon calls and afternoon West Coast aerospace collaboration
  • National Coverage: Optimal positioning for business coordination across all continental US time zones
  • Contract Flexibility: Ideal for defense contractors managing nationwide project schedules and deadlines
  • Logistics Efficiency: Central positioning supports DFW's role as a national transportation and distribution hub
  • Manufacturing Sync: Seamless coordination with supply chains spanning multiple time zones
  • 24/7 Operations: AI systems handle non-standard schedules standard in defense and logistics industries