985 Area CodeHouma, LA
Area code 985 covers Houma and nearby communities in Louisiana, in the Central Time (CT) zone, home to about 421,000 people across 86 cities. It overlays 504, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Houma
- State
- Louisiana (LA)
- Timezone
- Central Time (CT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 504
Where is area code 985?
Area code 985 serves part of Houma, LA and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (504) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 985 Area Code
What is the 985 area code?
The 985 area code serves Houma, Louisiana, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 985 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 985 created?
The 985 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Houma once the existing area code 504 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 985 Area Code
The 985 area code serves Houma and surrounding areas in Louisiana. It operates within the Central Time (CT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 504. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Houma
- Laplace
- Slidell
- Hammond
- Bayou Cane
- Thibodaux
Got a call from a 985 number? It came from Houma, LA. Since 985 overlays with 504, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 985, Houma holds about 8% of the population; the rest is split across 85 smaller cities.
Houma Area Codes Overview
Houma is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 985 area code operates alongside 504. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 985 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 985 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houma | LA | 31,671 | 0% | 100% |
| Laplace | LA | 29,872 | 0% | 100% |
| Slidell | LA | 28,440 | 0% | 100% |
| Hammond | LA | 23,426 | 0% | 100% |
| Bayou Cane | LA | 19,355 | 0% | 100% |
| Thibodaux | LA | 15,569 | 0% | 100% |
| Mandeville | LA | 12,973 | 0% | 100% |
| Bayou Blue | LA | 12,352 | 0% | 100% |
| Luling | LA | 12,119 | 0% | 100% |
| Covington | LA | 11,686 | 0% | 100% |
* 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 985 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 432 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 985 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 79% robocalls
- ↑ 19% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Dropped call or no message59%256
- Other24%102
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends6%27
* 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 985?
43% assigned to a telco
- 69% Landline
- 31% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (985)200- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (985)201- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (985)202- | Landline | Hunt Telecommunications |
| (985)205- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (985)206- | Landline | Deltacom |
| (985)207- | Landline | Xfone Usa |
| (985)208- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (985)209- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (985)210- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (985)212- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 985 Area Code
Who called me from a 985 number?
A 985 number is assigned to Houma, Louisiana, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 985 code to look nearby, so a 985 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 432 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 985 code (79% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 985 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 985 is a normal, officially assigned code for Houma, Louisiana. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 985 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 432 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 985 code (79% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 985 area code?
Repeated calls from different 985 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 985 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 432 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 985 code (79% 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 985 number?
If you aren't expecting a 985 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 985 area code?
Block a single 985 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 985 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 985?
Area code 985 covers Houma and the surrounding area in Louisiana, spanning 86 cities with about 420,697 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 504.
Is 985 a real area code?
Yes. 985 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Houma, Louisiana. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 985 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 985 area code in?
The 985 area code is in the Central Time (CT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 985 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 985 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 985 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 985 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.