985 Area Code: The Ring Around New Orleans

Introduction

Southeastern Louisiana has used the 985 area code since 2001. It wraps around New Orleans without including the city itself, tying together two very different regions. Maybe a call from this prefix just landed on your phone. Maybe you run a business and want a local number in Houma or Slidell. Either way, this guide explains what the 985 area code covers and where it came from. You'll learn its geography, its history, the cities it reaches, and the dialing rules that come with it.

Key Takeaways:

• The 985 area code has ringed the New Orleans metro, without covering the city itself, since it split from 504 on February 12, 2001.
• It joins the North Shore suburbs across Lake Pontchartrain with the bayou parishes toward the Gulf.
• It has no overlay, yet the state's move to mandatory 10-digit dialing in 2021 still applies here.
• A local 985 number signals real roots in the communities ringing New Orleans, not a distant call center.

Where Is the 985 Area Code Located?

This area code forms a horseshoe around Greater New Orleans. It does not cover the city, which keeps its own code. Instead, it stretches across the parishes that ring the metro on two sides. To the north, it takes in the suburbs across Lake Pontchartrain. To the southwest, it covers the wetlands and bayou country stretching toward the Gulf. The 985 area code is really two regions joined by a single prefix, not one solid block.

• 985 rings New Orleans without including the city.
• It covers the North Shore across Lake Pontchartrain.
• It also covers the bayou parishes toward the Gulf.
• It runs on Central Time, like the rest of the state.

History and Origin of the 985 Area Code

The 985 area code went into service on February 12, 2001. It split off from area code 504, which had been running low on numbers as the New Orleans metro grew. Regulators pulled the surrounding parishes into a fresh code, leaving 504 for the city core. A few years later, the map shifted again. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, some storm-hit areas in Plaquemines Parish moved back to 504 in 2007 while switching facilities were rebuilt. Since then, the 985 area code boundary has held steady.

Area Code 985 Compared to Nearby Louisiana Codes

The state runs on several area codes, and 985 wraps around the southeastern corner. At its center sits the 504 area code, which covers New Orleans, the region 985 split away from in 2001. To the northwest, 225 covers Baton Rouge, and further west, 337 covers Acadiana and Lake Charles. What sets 985 apart is its shape and split personality.

A code with two halves

The North Shore side feels suburban, full of bedroom communities for New Orleans commuters. The bayou side feels rural and Cajun, built around fishing, sugarcane, and the oil industry.

A code with no overlay

985 has no second code layered on top of it. Every line across both halves shares the same prefix, from a Slidell office to a Houma shrimp dock.

Cities and Communities Served by the 985 Area Code

This area code reaches a wide mix of communities across its two halves. On the North Shore, Slidell, Hammond, Mandeville, and Covington anchor the fast-growing suburbs north of the lake. Bogalusa sits further north near the Mississippi line.

Down in the bayou region, Houma and Thibodaux anchor the wetlands as centers for the seafood and energy industries. Morgan City and smaller fishing towns round out the coast. Choosing which of these markets to target is its own decision, and our area code guide helps weigh the options.

Time Zone and Dialing Rules for the 985 Area Code

Every community in this area code runs on Central Time. That means Central Standard Time in winter and Central Daylight Time in summer, matching the rest of the state. The dialing rule holds a small surprise. Even though 985 has no overlay, 10-digit dialing is now required for every local call. That rule took effect in 2021, when the state went all-digit to make room for the 988 crisis line. So callers must include the area code, even for a neighbor next door. The Wikipedia entry on area code 985 lays out the full timeline.

Why Businesses Choose a 985 Area Code Number

A local number in this area code sends a clear signal. It tells customers a business belongs to the communities ringing New Orleans, not a call center three states away. That local trust still drives referrals across the North Shore and bayou parishes alike. Businesses expanding into Houma, Slidell, or Hammond often pick up a 985 number so their caller ID fits right in.

This is where a cloud phone provider like Rozper fits in. A business doesn't need a physical office in the region. Rozper lets it set up a local 985 number through a VoIP platform instead. The local presence stays intact, and calls can route anywhere the team actually works. Rozper backs that setup with 99.999% uptime and coverage across 150+ countries. A company can claim a North Shore or bayou number while its support or sales team works from anywhere else. It's a practical way to plant a flag without signing a lease.

How to Get a 985 Area Code Number

Getting a new number in this area code usually means going through a phone provider. That's different from the phone company that first assigned the block decades ago. VoIP providers can issue one in minutes. The process looks the same almost everywhere:

1. Pick a cloud or VoIP provider that offers coverage in the region.
2. Search available numbers in the 985 area code and choose one that fits.
3. Confirm the number and point it at your existing phones or app.
4. Route incoming calls to any team, wherever they actually sit.

Businesses moving a number from an old provider need one extra step. They file a standard porting request, which usually takes a few business days. It's worth confirming the old number keeps working normally during the transfer.

Conclusion

Area code 985 started in 2001 and has ringed the New Orleans metro in southeastern Louisiana ever since, covering the North Shore and the bayou parishes alike. It reaches Houma, Slidell, Hammond, Thibodaux, and dozens of towns on two very different sides of the lake. Its Central Time zone and mandatory 10-digit dialing shape how every local call connects. For residents, the 985 area code is simply the prefix tied to home, whether that's a suburb or a shrimp boat. For businesses eyeing the region around New Orleans, it's a small but meaningful signal of local presence.