Tune into local news in Tampa Bay and you’ll notice something oddly fitting: two of the market’s biggest television stations broadcast on channels 8 and 13, the exact same digits as the area code covering the region. It’s purely coincidental, nobody planned it that way, but locals have noticed and mentioned it often enough that it’s become a small piece of Tampa trivia in its own right. If a number starting with 813 has reached you, you’re connecting with exactly the region behind that fitting little coincidence.
Tampa Bay’s West Coast Identity, At a Glance
| Category | Details |
| State | Florida, USA |
| Coverage Area | Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, Temple Terrace |
| Went Into Service | 1953 |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time (EST: UTC-5 / EDT: UTC-4) |
| Overlay Code | 656 |
| Split From | 305 |
Florida’s Second-Ever Area Code
813 holds a specific distinction worth knowing: it was only the second area code Florida ever received. Before 1953, the entire state ran on 305, stretching from the Panhandle down through the Keys. As Florida’s west coast grew, 813 split away to cover this side of the state independently, initially serving an enormous territory that included not just Tampa Bay but Sarasota and Fort Myers as well. Decades of subsequent splits trimmed that footprint considerably: 941 broke away in 1996, and 727 followed in 1998, narrowing 813 down to focus primarily on Hillsborough County.
What’s Left Under This Code Today
813 now concentrates on Tampa’s urban core and its immediate surrounding communities:
- Tampa itself, including downtown and the historic Ybor City district
- Brandon and Riverview
- Plant City and Temple Terrace
- Town ‘n’ Country and Carrollwood
Port Tampa Bay, the University of South Florida, and Tampa International Airport all sit within this footprint, giving the region a genuine mix of maritime commerce, higher education, and transportation infrastructure.
Pirates, Beads, and Half a Million Visitors
Ybor City’s Gasparilla Festival deserves specific mention here, an annual celebration built around a fictional pirate legend that draws close to half a million visitors to Tampa Bay every year. Massive parade floats and costumed crowds throwing beads have turned what started as a local tradition into one of the region’s biggest tourism draws, giving 813 an unusually festive, community-driven identity compared to codes tied purely to business or government activity.
An Economy Built on Healthcare and the Port
Beyond the festivals and beaches, this region supports serious healthcare infrastructure, including BayCare Health System, Tampa General Hospital, and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, a nationally recognised research institution. Combine that with steady port commerce and a growing finance sector, and 813 carries a more substantial economic base than its tourism-forward reputation might initially suggest.
Why 656 Joined in 2022
Hillsborough County’s continued growth eventually pushed 813’s numbering pool toward exhaustion, and rather than splitting the territory yet again, regulators introduced 656 as an overlay on February 22, 2022. Both codes now share identical territory across Hillsborough County and Oldsmar in Pinellas County, with ten-digit dialing mandatory for every local call as a result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is the coincidence between the area code and local TV channel numbers actually true?
Yes, it’s a genuine and often-noted coincidence locally. Tampa Bay’s market includes stations on channels 8 and 13, matching the area code’s digits, though there’s no historical connection between how either number was assigned.
Q2. Does 813 still cover Sarasota or Fort Myers, given its original 1953 footprint?
No. Those areas split away decades ago, Sarasota moved to 941 in 1996, and this code has focused specifically on Hillsborough County and its immediate surroundings ever since.
Q3. How do I dial an 813 number correctly from outside the United States?
Add your country’s international access code, then the US country code, followed by the ten-digit number, giving a sequence like 00-1-813-XXX-XXXX. Most smartphones handle this automatically if you save the contact using the “+” symbol.
Q4. Can a business outside Florida get an 813 number to reach the Tampa Bay market specifically?
Yes, virtual number providers commonly issue 813 or 656 numbers to businesses anywhere, letting them establish a Tampa-area presence for healthcare, tourism, or general business outreach without needing a physical Hillsborough County office.
