New Area Code Announced for Some Parts of the Hudson Valley

Brace yourselves. It looks like some Hudson Valley customers will be getting a whole new area code.

Just 16 years ago many of our lives changed forever when 914 turned to 845 for much of the Hudson Valley. Now another area code change is coming to screw with us.

The State Public Service Commission announced on Tuesday that 838 will be added to the 518 area code zone. This will affect parts of Columbia and Dutchess counties as well as the Albany area. The reason for the addition is that demand for new phone numbers has maxed out all of the available 518 combinations. So after the last 518 number is handed out, residents will begin receiving 838 numbers. That's expected to happen sometime next year.

But wait, if you already have a phone number don't think that the change isn't going to affect you. Before 838 numbers are even given out, callers in the 518 area will be forced to start dialing an area code for all local calls. That means if you're 518 you'll still have to dial 10 digits to talk to someone else with a 518 number.

There's no official date announced for10-digit dialing, but The Post Star reports an adjustment period will still allow calls to go through with 7 digits accompanied by a gentle recorded warning. After a few weeks the gentle warnings end and a message will instruct customers to hang up and try again.