The area code 402 is located in Columbus, Nebraska.
Area code 402 serves Columbus, Nebraska, and much of eastern Nebraska, connecting this Platte County city to regional hubs and major transportation routes like U.S. Highways 30 and 81. Columbus sits along the Loup River, and 402 supports local residents, schools, and businesses with reliable phone number coverage. The code’s reach ties Columbus to larger markets while keeping local calls within the eastern Nebraska community.
Established in 1947 as one of the original North American Numbering Plan area codes, 402 once covered the entire state before western Nebraska was split into 308 in 1954. To meet growing demand, the 531 overlay was added in 2011, and the region now uses 10-digit dialing. Columbus callers may see both 402 and 531 numbers, but both serve the same geographic area. Notable regional sites within 402 include the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial in Columbus and Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue.
Major cities and communities in area code 402 include:
“402 was established in 1947; 531 was added as an overlay in 2011.” — North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA)
Fun fact: 402 is one of Nebraska’s oldest area codes and remains the primary code for the state’s most populated corridor from Omaha to Lincoln. If you’re getting a local Columbus phone number, you may receive either a 402 or 531 area code, but both connect you to the same eastern Nebraska network. This makes it easy to recognize calls from Columbus, nearby Platte County towns, and major cities across the 402 region.