JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The new “324″ area code will officially launch Monday in Northeast Florida.
The “904″ has pretty much been synonymous to Jacksonville, and virtually all of Northeast Florida for generations.
However, the 904 area code is running out of numbers.
If you already have a 904 area code, don’t worry — you’re going to keep your number.
But starting Monday, the “324″ area code will officially be a thing. So, that means if you request a new phone number or an extra line, it might not include the “904″ that people are used to.
If you have 904 and call a friend who has a 324 number, the price to call will not change. Also, you can still dial three-digit numbers -- like 911, 211 and 411 -- without dialing any other number.
Aside from his TikTok handle, Edward Rundt has a soft spot for the 904, because he’s lived here for almost 20 years.
“My TikTok name is, in my—its nickname is “Icebreaker904,” Rundt said.
Rundt said a lot has changed in the 20 years that he has lived in Jacksonville.
“The buildings, the businesses, the jobs, and just seeing more different people,” Rundt said. “It means that there are more people coming to Jacksonville, which means it’s going to make Jacksonville better.”
Rundt is right about the population growth in recent years.
RELATED | Not just 904: Northeast Florida to get additional area code
The U.S. Census reports in the last 10 years, the city of Jacksonville’s population grew by nearly 130,000.
And it is not just Jacksonville.
The Census said from 2020 to 2022, Nassau County’s population boomed by 7%.
For St. Johns County, the latest numbers show as of July 2022, the population estimates were over 306,000.
Jarelle Henry, who is visiting from New York City, said she knows all about multiple area codes.
“I think Florida as a whole is growing. So, Jacksonville getting a new area code should be fun,” Henry said.
As for the 904 and its impact on Jacksonville culture, Ethan Chene isn’t worried.
“To be honest, I don’t really think 904 is going anywhere. I think it’s still going to be a trademark of Jacksonville,” Chene said.
Staying true to the Jacksonville roots, but taking a step into the future.
Friendly reminder, the 10-digit dialing started in January. So, if you give someone your number, be sure to include the whole thing.
To learn more about the 10-digit dialing visit the Florida Public Service Commission’s website.
