Area codes 518 and 838 are telephone area codes serving the northeasternmost part of Upstate New York in the United States. 518 was established as one of the original area codes during 1947. Area code 838 was added as an overlay during 2017. The two area codes cover 24 counties and 1,200 ZIP Codes. There are 493 landline exchanges and 100 wireless exchanges served by 47 carriers. The numbering plan area (NPA) it covers in New York State extends from the eastern Mohawk Valley to the Vermont border, and from the Canada–US border to south of Albany. The bulk of this NPA population is in the Capital District (the vicinity of the cities Albany, Schenectady, and Troy). Other cities in the NPA are Glens Falls, Plattsburgh, and Saratoga Springs. The area codes also cover the Upper Hudson Valley counties, Greene and Columbia counties, and some northern parts of Dutchess County. History The 518 area is the only one of New York's original five NPAs that still has its original boundaries. Despite the presence of the Capital District, this part of New York is not as densely populated as the rest of the state. As a result, even with the proliferation of cell phones and pagers (particularly in the Capital District and Glens Falls), it was one of the few remaining original area codes (not counting those serving an entire state) that had never been split or overlaid. By the spring of 2016, however, 518 was on the verge of depletion, and it was projected that the region would need another area code by 2019 at the latest. By the autumn, however, it was anticipated that 518 would be depleted during the third quarter of 2017. An overlay area code, 838, was approved quickly, to be implemented during the autumn of 2017. From March 18 to August 19, 2017, telephone calls could be made using seven digits or ten digits (area code + seven digit number). Ten-digit dialing became mandatory on August 20, 2017, with recorded messages reminding callers if they dialed incorrectly. On September 19, 2017, area code 838 was officially added as an overlay to area code 518 making this the second overlay in the upstate region. Areas served by this area code By county Albany Clinton Columbia Dutchess Essex Franklin Fulton Greene Hamilton Montgomery Rensselaer Saint Lawrence Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Warren Washington By community Albany Alcove Alplaus Altamont