The 204 area code is a telephone number assigned to the Manitoba Province, in Canada. This prefix possesses a single overlay, the 431 area code. Both codifications surround the entire territory of the province.
The prefix 204 mainly serves Winnipeg, which represents the largest city and the capital of the state. However, Manitoba disposes of other nine municipalities which remain within the 204 coverage radius, including Flin Flon, Morden, Brandon, Dauphin, Steinbach, Thompson, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, and Winkler.
Since its introduction, the 204 area code has been part of the development of the industrial and financial sectors of the province. For over 50 years it was the only codification covering the region and supporting Manitoba’s telephone Network.
1. History
The prefix 204 is one of the 86 original area codes in the North American Numbering Plan assigned for the United States and Canada territories. Established in 1947, this codification used to cover the whole province of Manitoba until the addition of the 431 area code.
The 431 area code got approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in July 2010; as part of an overlay plan to avoid the risk of saturation in the region. On July 30, 2012, the prefix 431 started running in Manitoba, becoming ten-digit dialing necessary for the province.
The introduction of the prefix 431 as an overlay for the 204 area code, instead of as a split, allows the confluence of both numbers in the entire zone.
The third area code for the Manitoba Province is dialing code 584, reserved in February 2017, but not activated yet.
2. Location
Manitoba is a Canadian province at the longitudinal center of the country located in the Central Daylight Time Zone. Besides, it is the only territory of Canada that belongs to Central Time.
With a population estimated at 1,379 million inhabitants, Manitoba is the 5th most populous Province in the country. As we already explained, it is constituted by 10 cities and delimits to the south with the US states of Minnesota and North Dakota.
The southern portion of the province encompasses the city-state capital of Winnipeg and the other six of Manitoba's ten cities. This region covered by natural vegetation ranges is recognized as one of the most diversified territories in Canada.
Surrounded by the 204 area code, this province covers a total area of 250,950 square miles, being the largest of the three Prairie Provinces.
Adjacent codes
The 204 area code and the prefix 431 are the only two codifications that conform to the telephone network of the region. The newest code added to the province is the 431 area code, while the number 204 was one of the nine dialing numbers assigned to Canada in 1947.
Some adjacent codes are the prefixes 306/639 associated with the Saskatchewan Province, the 867 area code that corresponds to Northern Canada including Nunavut, and the codifications 416/613 belonging to Ontario Province.
3. Most Important Locations in the 204 Area Code
Winnipeg
Located on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers on the southern side of the province, Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba. Moreover, encompassing around 825k inhabitants, this city is the most populous of the state and the 7th most populous municipality of the whole country.
Winnipeg’s incorporation dates from 1873. Being a railway and a transportation hub with an amplified economy, this city gets the nickname of the "Gateway to the West".
This city stands out as the economic and cultural center of the province and the major city located in the Winnipeg Metro Region, which is the most populous metropolitan area in central Canada.
Brandon
This municipality lies in the southwestern part of Manitoba on the Assiniboine River, 131 miles west of Winnipeg. Surrounding a total area of 29.89 square miles, Brandon is the second-largest city in the province and the primary hub of trade and commerce for the Westman region.
Incorporated on 30 May 1882, Brandon is the second most populous city served by the 204 area code, encompassing around 48k residents. Furthermore, this municipality encloses several educational institutions like Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College, which integrate the higher education network in Manitoba.
Steinbach
Established in 1874 and incorporated as a city in 1997, Steinbach has been a traditional agricultural municipality throughout history. Nevertheless, this location currently remains as one of the economic pillars of Southeastern Manitoba, being the service and retail industries its principal sectors.
Covering a total area of 9.88 square miles, Steinbach is the third-largest municipality of the Manitoba Province after Winnipeg and Brandon. Located on the eastern edge of the Canadian Prairies, this city has a population estimated at 20k inhabitants.
4. Other Important Districts and ZIP Codes of the 204 Area Code
The 204 area code surrounds all the territory of the city-state capital of Winnipeg, which comprises more than 236 neighborhoods, districts, and suburbs; including:
- Saint Boniface: established in 1818, Saint Boniface is home to much of the Franco-Manitoban community. Covering the southeast portion of the city, this district serves as headquarters of the “Festival du Voyageur”, one of the most significant festivals of the Manitoba Province.
- Transcona: located about 6 miles east of the downtown area, this suburb covers a total area of 1 square mile. Incorporated in 1912, Transcona possesses a population of around 36k residents.
- Vital: this district lies in the south-central section of Winnipeg, borders the Red River and the Seine River to the west and east respectively. St. Vital is one of the most populated districts of Winnipeg, encompassing over 68k inhabitants.
Main Postal and Shipping Services
- University of Manitoba Post Office, Winnipeg, MB, - +1 204-474-9233
- Canada Post, Winnipeg, MB, - + +1 204-987-5704
- Fort Richmond Post Office, Winnipeg, MB, - +1 204-985-0152
- Grand Marais Post Office, Grand Marais, MB, - +1 204-754-2344
5. FAQs
How many area codes are there in Manitoba?
The province of Manitoba owns just two area codes, the prefix 204, and its overlay the code 431.
Does the 584 area code belong to Manitoba?
The 584 area code was reserved for the province of Manitoba in February 2017 but hasn’t been activated yet.