Unless you’re a phone number aficionado, the 636 country code might not ring a bell. That’s because it’s not actually a country code at all! It’s a telephone area code specific to a region within the United States.
636 country code
Here’s where things get interesting: the 636 area code covers the western suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. So, if you’ve ever come across a phone number with a 636 prefix and assumed it belonged to a far-off country, you’re not alone.
This area code’s story begins in 1947 when Missouri was assigned two area codes: 314 and 816. 314 covered a large swathe of eastern Missouri, including St. Louis. But with population growth, the need for additional phone numbers arose. Enter 636, created in 1999 by splitting from the overloaded 314 area code.
Today, the 636 area code serves cities like O’Fallon, St. Charles, and St. Peters. So, next time you encounter a 636 number, you’ll know it’s your neighbor in suburban St. Louis, not an international call!
