Area code 985 was introduced in 2001 and serves Southeast Louisiana, covering cities like Houma, Thibodaux, Hammond. It sits in the Central (CT) zone and reaches a population of roughly 500K+.
With MeraTalk, you can get a 985 number for Louisiana in minutes and run all your calls over the internet from any device.
A 985 number gives your business a genuine local footing in Louisiana, and the benefits go well beyond a familiar caller ID.
Outbound reps dial Southeast Louisiana prospects from a number those prospects recognize. A familiar 985 caller ID gets the conversation started instead of going to voicemail.
Give your Southeast Louisiana customers a local number to call for help. Calls route to your support team wherever they sit, with queues, schedules, and an AI receptionist after hours.
Your team doesn't need to live in Louisiana to answer a 985 number. Calls ring on laptops and mobiles anywhere, while customers see a hometown business.
Pair your 985 number with local numbers in other markets you serve. Each location keeps its own identity while every call lands in one shared MeraTalk workspace.
Area codes are added as a region's demand for phone numbers grows. Here's when each Louisiana code came online — and where 985 fits in.
318 was the first of Louisiana's current codes, assigned to Northern Louisiana and anchored by Shreveport. It remains the code most residents associate with Shreveport and Bossier City.
As New Orleans Metro grew, 504 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around New Orleans and Metairie. Existing numbers kept their codes — 504 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Southeast Louisiana grew, 225 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Baton Rouge and Prairieville. Existing numbers kept their codes — 225 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Southwest Louisiana grew, 337 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Lafayette and Lake Charles. Existing numbers kept their codes — 337 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Southeast Louisiana grew, 985 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Houma and Thibodaux. Existing numbers kept their codes — 985 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
Make and receive calls and texts from your 985 number on desktop, mobile, or desk phone. One number for everything — no app-switching, no confusion.
Answers, screens, and routes every call to your 985 number around the clock — even when your team is offline or busy.
Every call and text to your 985 number is visible to the whole team — anyone can pick up, reply, or follow up.
Missed calls become readable transcripts delivered to your inbox.
Route Southeast Louisiana callers to the right person on your schedule.
Already have a 985 number? Bring it — porting is on every plan.
5 area codes covering Louisiana
Area code 985 is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) — the system that assigns three-digit codes to geographic regions across the US, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. Code 985 was assigned to Southeast Louisiana and serves Houma and Thibodaux as its primary markets.
When a call is made to a 985 number, the carrier routes it through the Central (CT) time zone switching network. This also means that when customers see a 985 number on their caller ID, they immediately associate it with Southeast Louisiana — before the call is even answered.
The area code on your caller ID shapes how customers in Southeast Louisiana decide whether to pick up or ignore your call.
Calls from a local 985 number are far more likely to be answered than calls from an out-of-state or toll-free number. Customers in Southeast Louisiana recognise the code and trust it as local.
A 985 number tells prospects in Louisiana that you operate in their market — even if your team is fully remote or based elsewhere. First impressions happen before the first word.
With a cloud-hosted 985 number, your team can answer calls from any device, in any location. The local area code stays consistent while your team stays flexible.
South listed first
Explore other South area codes and find the right local number for every market you serve.
Set up your 985 number on MeraTalk, compare other US area codes, or read the public record for Southeast Louisiana.
Run your 985 number on a full business phone system — calls, SMS, routing and an AI receptionist included.
On MeraTalkBrowse every US area code by state and find the right local number for the markets you serve.
External referenceSee the FCC's area code relief regulation (47 CFR §52.19) governing how area code 985 and every US area code is administered.
Same product, same support, same compliance on every plan. The AI receptionist is included from day one.
