Indiana | Illinois | Michigan Indiana: History | Northern (219, 260, 269) Central (317, 463, 765) Southern (812, 930) Northern IndianaNorthern Indiana (formerly NPA 219) is divided into three area codes (NPAs) and four Local Access Transport Areas (LATAs).Area codes 574 and 260 were placed in service on January 15th, 2002. Permissive dialing ended June 14th, 2002. Area code 219 was placed in service in 1948 as the first area code split in the North America Numbering Plan. This split was the result of AT&T's initial assignment of area code 317 to the entire northern and central parts of Indiana. At that time area codes were not in common use and AT&T had assigned the code based on their use to reach the exchanges they served. As of April 2013 a new area code is not expected to be needed in the 219 area until spring of 2033. A new area code is not expected to be needed in the 260 area code until winter of 2039. And a new area code is not expected to be needed in the 574 area code until winter of 2044. The map below shows the division between the LATAs and NPAs.  Calls within each LATA (except local calls) are carried by an "Intra-LATA" carrier (intra is within). Calls to another LATA are carried by an "Inter-LATA" carrier (inter is between). To identify their Intra-LATA carrier, customers may call 1+NPA+700-4141 (substituting their NPA for "NPA"). To identify their Inter-LATA carrier customers may call 1-700-555-4141. Each exchange area is connected to a "tandem" for connection to other exchanges and the long distance networks. There are several tandem locations across northern Indiana. The tandems are grouped together to form each LATA. The large size of the South Bend LATA comes from all of the United Telephone local exchanges in the area being connected to the same tandem in Plymouth, Indiana. South Bend LATA The largest LATA in northern Indiana is the South Bend LATA with portions of the LATA in each of the three northern Indiana area codes. Tandems in the South Bend LATA are located in South Bend, Elkhart, Portage and Plymouth. 
Chicago IL (Hammond) LATA The Chicago IL LATA includes a portion of the 219 area code and serves the northwest corner of Indiana. Tandems in the Chicago IL (Hammond) LATA are located in Gary, Crown Point and Hebron.  Auburn-Huntington (Fort Wayne) LATA The Fort Wayne LATA includes the majority of the 260 area code plus one exchange in the 574 area code. The tandem for the Auburn-Huntington (Fort Wayne) LATA is located in Fort Wayne. 
Indianapolis LATA - 574 The Indianapolis LATA includes a portion of the 574 area code and serves most of central Indiana. The tandem for this portion of the Indianapolis LATA is located in Logansport. (Twelve Mile is served from the Kokomo Tandem.) 
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The 2002 219 Area Code Split
Commentary: Sometimes things work out for the best. While the decision to assign which area got which code by lottery helped avoid the political debate over which area deserved to keep the 219 area code, the placement of the three codes ended up fitting in nicely with other area codes. The July 2002 split of area code 616 in Michigan placed area code 269 along the northern Indiana border. Most of the border with 269 is served by the 574 area code. The potential for confusion between 219 vs 269 and 260 vs 269 numbers is reduced by the reduction of the common border. As divided, the new 219 area code will have the shorter life (31 years from 2002) - however this area has been using the 219 area code since 1948 ... so when there is a change it will be the area's first change in 85 years (if the predictions hold true).
