I know why you’re asking, “Where is area code 402?” You missed a call on your cell phone, you don’t recognize the number, and it starts with 402. I hate it when that happens. Here’s what you need to know:
Where is Area Code 402?
Wikipedia reports that area code 402 covers eastern Nebraska, including Omaha, Lincoln, and Columbus (it is one of two area codes in Nebraska, currently). [Source: Wikipedia, “Area Code 402,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_402, 14 November 2009].
For a complete list of cities located within area code 402, see AreaCodeDownload.com’s 402 site at: http://www.areacodedownload.com/402/index.html, or try AllAreacodes.com.
So Who is Calling You From Area Code 402?
Your real question, I am guessing, is not “where is area code 402?” but rather, “who on earth is calling me from area code 402?” Thanks to the portability of cell phone numbers, knowing that the 402 area code comes from eastern Nebraska does not necessarily tell you who called from that area code. It is easy to get a 402 cell phone number (or a number in any other area code) even if you do not live in that area.
Getting a number outside of your physical area code is particularly easy now thanks to Google Voice and other services that allow you to get a free phone number of your choice. I, for example, currently have a cell phone number from the city I used to live in (out-of-state now), and I use Google Voice with an area code that matches my current geographic location.
If you cannot think of anyone from eastern Nebraska who might be calling you, you can try searching for the phone number on Google. If you cannot track down the identity of the caller that way, try a reverse phone search at anywho.com (or one of the many other reverse phone sites), or try Callferret.com (a website, still in beta, that tracks telemarketing phone numbers).
If you still cannot figure out who called from area code 402, just relax. People dial the wrong number all the time; if they didn’t leave you a voicemail, that’s probably what happened. If curiosity won’t let you forget about the missed call, you can try calling it back. I have dialed wrong numbers before and received a return call from the recipient asking who I was, so that happens.
Sources
AreaCodeDownload.com, “402,” http://www.areacodedownload.com/402/index.html, 14 November 2009.
Wikipedia, “Area Code 402,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_402, 14 November 2009
