---
title: "Area code 985: Louisiana, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/985.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/985"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 985 serves Louisiana, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Louisiana."
---

# Area code 985: Louisiana, United States

Area code 985 serves Louisiana, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Louisiana.

NANPA lists 447 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 985, held by 33 holders across 45 rate centers.
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 108 (24%). 75% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 1,326 complaints on file for 963 numbers in 985, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 2001-02-12
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 447
- Pooled prefixes: 334 (75%)
- Rate centers: 45
- Companies holding prefixes: 33
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-25 to 2026-04-13 (209 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 51

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HOUMA | 53 | 12% |
| HAMMOND | 44 | 10% |
| SLIDELL | 39 | 9% |
| COVINGTON | 32 | 7% |
| MORGANCITY | 25 | 6% |
| MANDEVILLE | 23 | 5% |
| THIBODAUX | 22 | 5% |
| LAPLACE | 16 | 4% |
| 37 other rate centers | 193 | 43% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Central Bell Tel | 108 | 24% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 67 | 15% |
| Paetec Itel | 35 | 8% |
| Verizon Wireless | 35 | 8% |
| Onvoy | 28 | 6% |
| Level 3 Communications | 24 | 5% |
| 27 other carriers | 150 | 34% |

A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 504, named as the parent of 985 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2001-02-12: Area code 985 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 985, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 504 (about 22 miles), 225 (about 50 miles), 228 (about 96 miles), 769 (about 131 miles) and 337 (about 132 miles).

## ZIP codes

51 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Slidell, LA (5 ZIP codes), Hammond, LA (4 ZIP codes) and Houma, LA (4 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes.

## Complaints on file

1,326 complaints for 963 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 55
- 2024: 69
- 2025: 105

## Questions

### Where is area code 985?

NANPA assigns area code 985 to Louisiana, United States.

### In which state does area code 985 sit?

Louisiana. 985 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 985 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 985 are Slidell, LA, Hammond, LA and Houma, LA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 985?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 985, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 108 prefixes or 24%.

### Which time zone does 985 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 985 as Central (C).

### What year did 985 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2001-02-12, so 985 has been in use since 2001.

### Does area code 985 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 985.

### Which area codes are nearest to 985?

The area codes closest to 985, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 504 (about 22 miles), 225 (about 50 miles), 228 (about 96 miles), 769 (about 131 miles) and 337 (about 132 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 985 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 447 prefixes in service in 985, spread over 45 rate centers and 33 holders.

### Are there complaints about 985 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 1,326 complaints for 963 numbers in 985. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).