The area code 216 is for Cleveland, Ohio, and the surrounding areas. It is one of the original 86 area codes created by AT&T and the Bell System in 1947, and it originally served northeastern Ohio, including Cleveland. In 1996, the area code was split, creating the need to update some of the phone numbers to area code 330, and again in 1997 to create area code 440. Despite comprising a major urban area, 216 has not been overlaid with a second area code.