Area code 860 covers most of Connecticut outside the southwestern portion of the state, including cities like Hartford, New Britain, Bristol, and Norwich. It was created in 1995 from a split of area code 203 to manage increasing phone number demands. The region includes the state capital, Hartford, which is known as a major insurance and financial services hub. In 2014, area code 959 was introduced as an overlay to 860, requiring ten-digit dialing for all local calls. The area reflects a balance between urban centers and rural charm, serving Connecticut’s inland and eastern regions. 860 has become a central identifier for communities in the northern and eastern parts of the state.