Area code 718

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The blue area is New York State, and the red area is area code 718 (partially overlaid by 347 and 917).

Area code 718 is a New York City telephone area code (overlayed by area codes 347 and 917) for The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn, the four outer boroughs of New York City, as well as the Marble Hill section of Manhattan.

At the time of its creation in 1984, 718 was only assigned to Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. The Bronx joined 718 in 1992. Manhattan cell phones can also fall under the 718 area code.

[edit] Cultural references

Staten Island based clothing company No.718 Brand ^[1] incorporated '718' into its company name to represent one of the most common unities that the five boroughs share with each other. The company promotes New York City history and culture through its one of a kind vintage style designs.

This area code was celebrated in the 1998 2 Skinnee J's song 718 ^[2], in which the rappers tell of people moving from Manhattan (212) to other boroughs (718) for lower rent.

Hip-hop group Theodore Unit (which includes Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface) released an album entitled 718, an homage to their home of Staten Island which is contained within the 718 area code. Rapper/Actor Mos Def refers to the 718 area code in his song "Sunshine"

Art rock band Bloc Party has a song entitled "Waiting for the 718." Some thought it was written in reference to the area code, however it is actually about waiting for London-bound commuter train that departs at 7:18.

Some jeans made by "Sir Benni Miles" have "718 crew" written on them, one pair has it written on the label on the back of the jeans above the right back pocket.

By the early 1980s rising rents in Manhattan below 96th Street (and fears of crime above it) had forced poorer migrants to New York City away from the borough of Manhattan and towards the other boroughs of The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. The new 718 area code came to symbolize a new economic reality: too poor to afford Manhattan. A tee-shirt slogan invoked the different, lower economic status of the area code: "718 and Proud of It."

[edit] References

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