Area code 863 covers a broad area of south-central Florida, including cities such as Lakeland, Winter Haven, Sebring, and Lake Wales. Established in 1999 from a split of area code 941, 863 was created to serve Florida’s inland agricultural and residential communities. The region includes citrus groves, cattle ranches, and phosphate mining, making it an economic backbone of rural Florida. It also houses growing suburban cities that serve as bedroom communities for Tampa and Orlando. With Polk County at its center, the 863 area continues to grow in population while maintaining its agricultural heritage. It remains a standalone area code and a key identifier for the heartland of Florida.