Area code 616

Area code 616 is the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) area code for the west-central portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The area code includes the cities of Grand Rapids, Holland, Greenville, and Grand Haven. It includes all of Kent and Ottawa counties, and parts of neighboring counties, including the western and central parts of Ionia County.

616 was created in 1947 as one of the original area codes. It was assigned to the entire western half of the Lower Peninsula, as well as the Upper Peninsula. It was by far the largest of Michigan's three original numbering plan areas, covering as much territory as plan area 313 and 517, combined. It was also the largest numbering plan area east of the Mississippi River that did not cover an entire state. In 1961, the Upper Peninsula split off as area code 906. In 1999, the northwestern Lower Peninsula became area code 231, reducing 616 to cover West Michigan.

The 1999 split was intended to be a long-term solution for the region, but within two years 616-numbers was already exhausting, because of the proliferation of cell phones and pagers. In 2002, the lower third of the old 616 territory, including Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, was split off and assigned the area code 269.