What Is Area Code 716?
Area code 716 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) serving western New York, with Buffalo as its primary city. The 716 region includes major communities such as Niagara Falls, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Jamestown, North Tonawanda, and Lockport. Area code 624 was added as an overlay in 2023 to provide additional phone numbers across the same geographic region.
- State: New York
- Primary City: Buffalo
- Major Cities: Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Jamestown, North Tonawanda, Lockport
- Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
- Established: 1947
- Overlay Area Code: 624
- Region: Western New York
- Primary Uses: Residential phone service, mobile numbers, local businesses, healthcare, education, manufacturing, tourism, professional services, and other business communications
What Time Zone Is Area Code 716?
Area code 716 is entirely within the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
- Eastern Standard Time (EST): UTC−5
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): UTC−4 during daylight saving time
The time zone applies across Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Jamestown, and the other communities within the 716/624 numbering region.
Population & Demographics of Area Code 716
Area code 716 serves the core of western New York, including major portions of Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties. The New York Public Service Commission also identifies portions of Allegany County within the broader 716 numbering area. Because telephone boundaries do not exactly match county boundaries, there is no single official Census population figure for the entire area code.
The four primary counties associated with the 716 region had a combined 2025 population of approximately 1.36 million residents, based on current Census estimates. The largest concentration is in Erie County, which includes Buffalo and had an estimated 946,741 residents in 2025.
- Estimated Population: Approximately 1.36 million
- Region: Western New York, centered on Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier
- Average Household Size: Approximately 2.4 people
- Gender Distribution: Approximately 50.75% female and 49.25% male
- Population Density: Highest in Buffalo and the surrounding Erie County suburbs, with additional concentrations around Niagara Falls, Jamestown, and the Tonawanda area
- Largest Population Centers: Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, West Seneca, North Tonawanda, Jamestown, and Lockport
- Age Distribution: The region has a substantial older population; residents aged 65 and older account for 21.2% of Erie County, 23.1% of Niagara County, and 23.8% of Chautauqua County.
- Major Industries: Healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, education, financial services, tourism, retail, professional services, and international trade.
County and City Covered by Area Code 716
Area code 716 primarily covers western New York communities across Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus counties. The New York Public Service Commission identifies portions of Allegany County within the 716 numbering area as well.
The exact communities and telephone prefixes assigned can vary within individual counties. Area code 624 is an overlay for 716, meaning customers in the same geographic region can have either a 716 or 624 number.
History & Background of Area Code 716
Area code 716 was introduced in 1947 as one of the original 86 North American area codes. Its original territory was much larger and included western New York communities as far east as the Rochester region. Population growth and demand for telephone numbers eventually resulted in geographic splits that reduced the 716 footprint.
- 1947 – Creation: Area code 716 was established as one of New York's original area codes and initially covered a large section of western and central New York.
- 1954 – Area Code 607 Created: The eastern portion of the 716 numbering area was combined with part of the 315 region to create area code 607.
- 2001 – Area Code 585 Created: Continued numbering demand led to a geographic split that created area code 585 for Rochester and surrounding communities, leaving 716 concentrated in western New York.
- 2021 – 10-Digit Dialing: Mandatory 10-digit dialing was already required in the 716 region as part of the nationwide transition associated with the 988 dialing code.
- 2023 – Area Code 624 Overlay: New York approved 624 as an all-services overlay for the 716 region, with the new code entering service on November 16, 2023. Existing 716 customers kept their numbers.
- Today: 716 and 624 serve the same western New York numbering region.
Why Local Numbers Build Trust
A local 716 number gives customers immediate geographic context when they see an incoming call. Research also shows that consumers are more likely to answer calls that appear to come from a local area code: an AARP survey found that 59% of U.S. adults were very or somewhat likely to answer a call displaying a local area code.
- Improve Customer Response Rates: A recognizable 716 number can make an incoming call appear relevant to customers in Buffalo and surrounding western New York communities. However, a local area code does not guarantee that a customer will answer.
- Build Western New York Credibility: A 716 number can reinforce a business's connection to Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and surrounding communities. This is particularly relevant for businesses whose customers are concentrated in western New York.
- Strengthen Local Search Consistency: A local phone number can support consistent business information across a website, business profiles, and directories. The area code itself should not be treated as a guaranteed local SEO ranking factor.
- Establish Familiarity Before the Call: Customers often use caller ID to decide whether to answer. A recognizable local number provides geographic context, although businesses should also use accurate caller identification because scammers can spoof local numbers. The FTC warns that a call displaying a local number can originate from anywhere.
Benefits of Using GoodCall for 716 Area Code Businesses
Businesses in Buffalo and surrounding western New York communities receive calls for appointments, estimates, customer questions, reservations, sales inquiries, and service requests. GoodCall combines a local phone number with an AI-powered phone system that can handle these conversations and route calls when human assistance is required.
- 24/7 AI Call Answering With a Voice Agent: A voice agent can answer incoming calls around the clock, including after business hours and during busy periods. Goodcall's AI phone agents are designed to handle natural conversations rather than rigid IVR menus.
- Intelligent Lead Capture & Qualification: An AI phone agent can collect caller information, understand why someone is calling, qualify leads, and pass relevant information into business workflows. This can be useful for service businesses, healthcare practices, real estate companies, and other businesses dependent on inbound calls.
- Automated Appointment Booking :An AI answering service can handle appointment requests and direct callers through configured scheduling workflows. Goodcall supports appointment booking as part of its phone-agent capabilities.
- CRM & Calendar Integration: Goodcall can connect call handling with calendars, CRM systems, and other supported workflows, allowing businesses to move information from phone conversations into their existing systems rather than manually recording every inquiry.
- Full Call Recording & Analytics: GoodCall provides call recordings and conversation insights that businesses can use to review interactions, understand caller intent, and measure call activity.
How to Get a 716 Area Code Phone Number With GoodCall
Businesses that want a local western New York number can use GoodCall to combine a 716 phone number with an AI phone agent.
- Create Your Account: Enter your business information and begin the GoodCall setup.
- Select Your Plan: Choose the plan that matches your call volume and automation requirements.
- Complete Verification: Provide the required business and identity information.
- Choose a 716 Number: Select an available 716 number from the numbers offered during setup.
- Configure Your AI Agent: Add greetings, FAQs, business information, call-routing instructions, and escalation rules.
- Connect Business Tools: Configure your calendar, CRM, or other supported integrations.
- Go Live: Test the call flow and activate the number.
Nearby Area Codes to 716
Area code 716 primarily serves Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Jamestown, and other communities across Western New York. Area code 624 is the direct overlay for 716, while 585 serves Rochester and 814/582 serve neighboring Pennsylvania communities.
Here are the nearby regions and their area codes:
