272 Area Code: Scranton, Wilkes-Barre & NE Pennsylvania

The 272 area code covers the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania — from Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in the coal-country Wyoming Valley, west to Williamsport on the Susquehanna, and out across the Poconos to Stroudsburg and Hazleton. It is an overlay of 570, so the two codes share the exact same 24-county region, and together they reach everything from the rail yards of Scranton to the resort ridges of the Poconos.

This guide explains where 272 reaches, how the 570 overlay works, the northeastern-Pennsylvania region it serves, the nearby area codes, how businesses use a 272 number, and how to get one from anywhere.

Where is the 272 area code?

The 272 area code covers the northeastern third of Pennsylvania — the broad sweep of the state north and east of Harrisburg, from the New York line down to the edge of the Lehigh Valley, and from Lock Haven east across the Poconos. It entered service on October 21, 2013 as an overlay on top of the older 570.

Cities and towns inside the 272/570 footprint include:

272 and the 570 overlay

The 570 area code was created in 1998 from a split of central Pennsylvania's 717. When 570 began to run low, regulators added 272 as an overlay in 2013 rather than split the northeast again. A 272 number covers the exact same northeastern-Pennsylvania geography as a 570 — the two simply share the territory. Because two codes overlap, 10-digit dialing is required for every local call.

A 570 number is the older, more established of the pair; a 272 is more recently issued. For another two-code overlay on a single Pennsylvania region, see the 223 area code down in the Harrisburg and Lancaster country.

Northeastern Pennsylvania: coal, rivers, and the Poconos

The 272 region is a chain of distinct valley cities. Scranton — "The Electric City," the first in the nation to run electric streetcars — anchors a former anthracite-coal economy now built around healthcare, logistics, and universities. Wilkes-Barre shares the Wyoming Valley just downriver.

Williamsport, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, hosts the Little League World Series every August. East of the valley, the Pocono Mountains spread across Monroe County with resorts, ski slopes, and weekend traffic from New York and Philadelphia. Coal, rail, and the Susquehanna River shaped the whole region.

Area codes near 272

Northeastern Pennsylvania borders New York and several Pennsylvania metros, so 272's neighbors reach in every direction:

• 717 / 223 — Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York, to the south (the parent region of 570).
• 484 / 610 — the Lehigh Valley, Allentown and Bethlehem, to the southeast.
• 607 — the Southern Tier of New York, across the northern line.
• 814 — central and western Pennsylvania, to the west.
• 845 / 973 — the Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey, to the east.

Business uses for a 272 number

A 272 number works as a local identity across northeastern Pennsylvania. Businesses put one to use in a few common ways:

• Local support line — Scranton and Wilkes-Barre customers reach you on a number they recognize.
• Sales and outreach — a 272 caller ID earns more callbacks than an unknown out-of-state number.
• Local marketing — a 272 number on an ad or vehicle reads as northeastern-Pennsylvania local.
• Multi-location — give each branch its own local number while routing to one team.

You do not need an office on Scranton's Lackawanna Avenue to set this up. My Country Mobile can assign you a 272 number and route it to the phones, laptops, and apps your team already uses, anywhere in the world.

Dialing and time zone

Because 272 and 570 share one region, 10-digit dialing is required — every local call needs the full area code. The 272 area code sits in the Eastern Time Zone (ET) — America/New_York — observing EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer, the same clock as New York and Philadelphia.

Staying safe from 272 scam calls

Like any local code, 272 gets spoofed. Scammers fake a 272 caller ID — sometimes matching the first digits of your own number — so a call looks like a nearby business or county office. A 272 on your screen does not prove the caller is really in Pennsylvania.

A few habits keep you safe:

• Let unknown 272 calls go to voicemail; legitimate callers leave a message.
• Never share one-time codes, card numbers, or login details with an inbound caller.
• Be wary of "utility shutoff," "warrant," or refund-style calls that pressure you to act fast.
• Use carrier spam filtering. The FCC's STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework is why many phones now flag these as "Spam Risk."

How to get a 272 number

Getting a 272 line takes minutes, with no Pennsylvania address required. A cloud phone provider can assign you one and route calls to the devices your team already uses:

1. Sign up for a free account — no card needed to browse inventory.
2. Search 272 (or 570) and pick a number from available northeastern-Pennsylvania inventory.
3. Choose a plan by seat count and features.
4. Route and go live — send calls to a cell, desk phone, or softphone.

Key takeaways

• 272 covers northeastern Pennsylvania — Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, the Poconos, and coal country.
• It shares the region with the 570 overlay (since 2013), which makes 10-digit dialing required.
• The region runs on coal heritage, the Susquehanna River, the Little League World Series, and Pocono resorts.
• 272 sits in Eastern Time; its neighbors include 717/223, 484/610, 607, and 814.
• A 272 number signals a genuine northeastern-Pennsylvania presence and can be held from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions