Quick answer: The 228 area code covers Mississippi's entire Gulf Coast — three counties (Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson) and cities including Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. It split off the statewide 601 code on September 15, 1997, sits in the Central Time Zone, and has no overlay, so it remains a clean, single local signal for the coast.
A guide to Mississippi's Gulf Coast numbers
Mississippi has a long Gulf shoreline — casinos, shipyards, and an Air Force base — and almost all of it shares one phone prefix. If a number starts with 228, it's coming from the coast.
That's unusual. Most states slice their busy regions into several codes, but the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast still runs on a single one. For a business, that makes the prefix a clean, instantly recognizable local signal. This guide breaks down what the 228 area code covers: the cities, the three counties, the history behind it, the dialing rules, and how to get a coastal number even if you're based elsewhere.
Where the 228 area code is located
The 228 belongs to the southeastern tip of Mississippi — the strip of land that runs along the Gulf of Mexico. It's a compact coastal numbering plan rather than a sprawling statewide one.
The three counties it serves
Unlike most area codes, this one maps neatly onto just three counties:
| County | Key cities |
|---|---|
| Hancock | Bay St. Louis, Waveland |
| Harrison | Gulfport, Biloxi, Pass Christian |
| Jackson | Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Moss Point |
That tidy footprint makes the prefix a precise marker for the Gulf Coast, not a vague regional code shared with inland cities.
Time zone
The whole region runs on Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in the colder months and CDT (UTC−5) during daylight saving, roughly mid-March through early November.
A short history of the 228
For decades, the entire state of Mississippi used a single code: 601. By the mid-1990s, that pool of numbers was running dry.
The 1997 split from 601. On September 15, 1997, regulators split the Gulf Coast away from 601 and gave it its own prefix. It was the second area code ever assigned to Mississippi — a true geographic split, not an overlay. Coastal numbers moved to the new code while the rest of the state kept 601. The coast needed it: Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula were booming as casino gaming, tourism, and shipbuilding pulled in residents and businesses fast.
One code, still holding. Nearly three decades later, the region still has no overlay. The prefix continues to serve the whole coast on its own — a sign the original split was generously sized.
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Cities in the 228 area code
The coast packs a lot of distinct communities into a short drive along U.S. Highway 90.
- Gulfport — the second-largest city in Mississippi and the commercial anchor of the coast, with a busy deep-water port.
- Biloxi — known for its casino resorts and beachfront tourism, and home to Keesler Air Force Base.
- Pascagoula — an industrial center in Jackson County, home to one of the largest shipbuilding operations in the United States.
- Ocean Springs and Bay St. Louis — smaller arts-and-tourism towns with walkable downtowns.
What the Gulf Coast economy looks like
A local number only matters if there's local business to win. On the 228 coast, there's plenty.
Casinos in Biloxi and Gulfport draw millions of visitors a year, and the hospitality businesses around them rely on phone bookings and support. Pascagoula's shipyard and the region's port operations sustain thousands of skilled jobs and a deep network of suppliers.
Keesler Air Force Base feeds a steady population of personnel and families, supporting healthcare, retail, and professional services across Harrison County. If you sell into any of these markets, a coastal number on your caller ID does quiet, constant work.
Dialing rules for the 228 area code
The rules here are simple compared with overlay regions. Because the coast has no overlay, the strict ten-digit mandate that governs many metros doesn't apply the same way — most local calls complete in the standard format your carrier supports.
Long-distance calls use the usual 1 + 10-digit pattern. From outside the US, dial +1, then 228, then the seven-digit number.
Is a 228 number safe to trust?
Yes. The prefix is a legitimate, federally assigned area code used by real Gulf Coast residents and businesses.
Still, scammers sometimes fake local caller IDs so a call looks like it's from a neighbor. If a 228 call feels pushy or asks for sensitive details, hang up and call the organization back on a verified number. Want to keep spoofed traffic off your own business line? MCM's platform includes caller authentication and spam filtering built into every number.
How to get a 228 number from anywhere
You don't need a Gulfport address to use a Gulfport number. A virtual phone number gives you a real 228 line that rings wherever your people already are.
You get a dial-able local number with call forwarding, voicemail, routing, and analytics, all running through a cloud phone system instead of a desk phone. It suits remote teams, businesses expanding into coastal Mississippi, and multi-location brands that want a consistent local number in every market. My Country Mobile sets up 228 numbers in minutes — pick an available number and you can take Gulf Coast calls the same day.
The bottom line
The 228 is a rare thing: one clean code for an entire, economically busy coastline. That makes it an unusually strong local signal for any business chasing customers in Hancock, Harrison, or Jackson counties. If the Mississippi Gulf Coast is on your map, claim a local number, point it at your team, and let the area code do the introductions.
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FAQs
What cities does the 228 area code cover?
It covers Mississippi's Gulf Coast, including Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Moss Point, and Waveland.
What counties are in the 228 area code?
Three: Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson — the counties that make up the southeastern coastal tip of Mississippi.
When was the 228 area code created?
It went into service on September 15, 1997, when the Gulf Coast was split off from Mississippi's original statewide 601 code.
Does the 228 area code have an overlay?
No. Nearly three decades after it was created, the region still operates on this single prefix with no overlay layered on top.
What time zone is the 228 area code in?
Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during daylight saving from March to November.
Can I get a 228 number if I'm not on the Gulf Coast?
Yes. A virtual phone number gives you a real 228 line that forwards to your existing devices anywhere, so you can build a coastal presence remotely.
Get a 228 number for your business
A local Gulf Coast presence used to require a Mississippi address. Now it's a 30-second sign-up.
My Country Mobile offers 228 virtual numbers with call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, SMS, and analytics. Calls route to any device worldwide, and over 17,500 businesses already trust MCM with their virtual phone presence.
