Area code 850 serves the Florida Panhandle, including cities such as Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Panama City. It was created in 1997 from a split with 904 and overlaid by 448 in 2021, now requiring ten-digit dialing. The region includes state government in the capital, major military installations, universities, and Gulf Coast beaches. Area code 850 symbolizes Florida’s more conservative, rural, and historically Southern region, contrasting with the state's larger urban areas. It remains a prominent identifier for life in North Florida and the Panhandle’s distinct cultural and political landscape.