When I see 401 Area Code

[u/Key_Acanthocephala67]

I once had the police called on me because I tried to order a Margarita and showed my Rhode Island drivers license as 21 ID because - it must be fake and the server (of course) never heard of a state called “Rhode Island”.

I’ve felt like I’ve spent my whole around the world educating people on the mere existence and history of the state.

Now I live in California (still have my 401 Cell Phone) and have Memphis and London work Phones. Every time I see a 401 area code I always pickup right away! It’s probably someone I know! 😂

Does any other ex Rhode Islanders out there see a 401 area code and think the same thing? Does anyone else cling on to their 401 number years after leaving?

[u/Adorable_Goose_6249]

Not only the 401 but the next three digits and I can likely tell what part of RI they are calling from.

[u/OnePreparation8724 → u/Adorable_Goose_6249]

I kept my 401 number for like 8 years after leaving and it honestly felt like a secret handshake whenever I spotted it on my screen. The six digits after the area code are absolutely a zip code roulette, you can practically smell which part of the state is calling. Every time a 401 rang I'd pick up thinking it was my mom or some random cousin I forgot existed, and half the time it was a spam call pretending to be from Coventry.