The new 861 area code will begin for new lines of service for areas currently using the 309 area code on February 24, 2023. The 309 area code has been in use for decades in the Rock Island, Peoria, Henry, Bureau, Knox and other nearby counties. The available number combinations was expected to be exhausted by the end of 2023, according to a release in November 2022 by the Illinois Commerce Commission. This does not mean that your current phone number will be changed to 861, you can keep your current phone number. The 861 area code will only be assigned to those who are getting a new phone in the areas covered by 309 area codes. This applies to both cellphone and landline phone services.
The 309 area code serves all or part of Bureau, Dewitt, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Knox, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Mercer, Peoria, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, and Woodford counties. This includes cities and communities such as Bloomington, Canton, Galesburg, Macomb, East Moline, East Peoria, Galesburg, Moline, Normal, Pekin, Peoria, and Rock Island, as well as many other smaller communities.
- Telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change.
- The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
- What is a local call now will remain a local call.
- Customers in the overlay region will continue to dial 10 digits for local calls within and between the overlay area codes, and 1+10 digits for long distance calls.
- Customers can still dial just three digits to reach 911 and 988, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711 or 811 if those are currently available in their community.
