Customers requesting new telephone service in west-central Illinois may be assigned a number in a new 861 area code.
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the Illinois Commerce Commission has approved an all-services overlay for the 309 area code. The 309 area code serves the west-central portion of the state, including 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.
Beginning Feb. 24, customers in the 309 area code region may be assigned a number in the new 861 area code when they request new service or an additional line. Customers receiving the 861 area code will be required to dial the area code and phone number for all local calls, just as customers with telephone numbers from the 309 area code do today.
An overlay is the addition of another area code (861) to the same geographic region as an existing area code (309). The overlay does not require you to change your existing area code or phone number, or how you dial your calls. You will continue to dial the area code and phone number for all local calls, as you do today, within and between the 309 and 861 area codes.