219 Area CodeHammond, IN
Area code 219 covers Hammond and nearby communities in Indiana, home to about 682,000 people across 73 cities. It's the only area code for this region, so the three digits alone place the caller.
Overview
- Major City
- Hammond
- State
- Indiana (IN)
- Timezone
- Eastern / Central
- Current Time
- Overlay
- No – unique area code
Where is area code 219?
Area code 219 serves part of Hammond, IN and the surrounding areas. It is a unique area code with no overlays.
Overview of the 219 Area Code
What is the 219 area code?
The 219 area code serves Hammond, Indiana. When you see a 219 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 219 created?
The 219 area code was established to serve the Hammond region in Indiana. It provides telephone number coverage across 73 cities.
Geographic Coverage of the 219 Area Code
The 219 area code serves Hammond and surrounding areas in Indiana. It operates within the Eastern / Central time zone. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Hammond
- Gary
- Portage
- Merrillville
- Crown Point
- Valparaiso
Got a call from a 219 number? It came from Hammond, IN. No other area code overlaps the 219 territory, so the prefix alone identifies where the caller is. Inside 219, Hammond holds about 11% of the population; the rest is split across 72 smaller cities.
Hammond Area Code Overview
The 219 area code provides comprehensive telephone coverage for Hammond and its surrounding communities. As the sole area code for this region, it uniquely identifies all local numbers within the service area.
What cities does area code 219 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond | IN | 76,030 | 1% | 100% |
| Gary | IN | 67,555 | 2% | 100% |
| Portage | IN | 38,576 | 1% | 99% |
| Merrillville | IN | 36,989 | 1% | 100% |
| Crown Point | IN | 35,097 | 1% | 100% |
| Valparaiso | IN | 35,065 | 1% | 100% |
| Michigan City | IN | 31,466 | 1% | 100% |
| Schererville | IN | 29,780 | 0% | 100% |
| Hobart | IN | 29,418 | 1% | 100% |
| East Chicago | IN | 25,768 | 1% | 97% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 219 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 294 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 219 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 53% robocalls
- ↓ 20% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other42%124
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)17%50
- Dropped call or no message14%41
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 219?
44% assigned to a telco
- 70% Landline
- 30% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (219)200- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (219)201- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (219)202- | Landline | Fbn Indiana |
| (219)203- | Landline | Comcast Ip Phone |
| (219)204- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (219)205- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (219)206- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
| (219)207- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (219)208- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (219)209- | Landline | Bandwidth.Com Clec |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 219 Area Code
Who called me from a 219 number?
A 219 number is assigned to Hammond, Indiana, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 219 code to look nearby, so a 219 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 294 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 219 code (53% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 219 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 219 is a normal, officially assigned code for Hammond, Indiana. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 219 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 294 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 219 code (53% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 219 area code?
Repeated calls from different 219 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 219 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 294 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 219 code (53% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 219 number?
If you aren't expecting a 219 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 219 area code?
Block a single 219 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 219 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 219?
Area code 219 covers Hammond and the surrounding area in Indiana, spanning 73 cities with about 682,014 residents. No other code overlays this region, so 219 alone identifies the area.
Is 219 a real area code?
Yes. 219 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Hammond, Indiana. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 219 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 219 area code in?
The 219 area code is in the Eastern / Central. Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 219 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 219 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 219 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 219 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.