Area code · Louisiana
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The 985 area code reads as Houma and the surrounding southeast Louisiana communities, including New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Prairieville, Marrero, Laplace, and Slidell. You pick the number right in the Ghost app and choose 985 specifically instead of getting whatever's handed to you. It takes minutes to set up, and you're calling and texting from it the same day.
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Why choose a 985 virtual phone number?
Sell locally without hesitation
When you're listing something online in Houma or nearby Marrero, a 985 number tells the buyer you're actually in the area. That matters more than people admit when they're deciding whether to reply.
Dating that doesn't raise questions
If you're meeting people around Slidell or Laplace, a local area code fits in. No one has to ask why your number looks like it's from somewhere else.
Line up a place before you get there
Moving to Prairieville or Houma from out of state? Get the 985 number first. Landlords and future neighbors see a local number, not an out-of-town one.
Job hunting in the Houma and New Orleans area
Employers around Metairie and Kenner glance at the area code before they even read your resume. A 985 number signals you're already local and ready to start.
Keep the number after you move
If you leave south Louisiana but still have family or business ties around Houma or Slidell, you can hold onto the 985 number instead of losing that connection.
How to get a 985 phone number
- 1
Pick your area code
Choose any 985 area code, or any other US or Canadian code.
- 2
Choose your number
See available numbers instantly and pick the one you like.
- 3
Start calling and texting
Your number works over WiFi or data for everyday calling and texting. No SIM card, no new phone plan.
- 4
Stay in control
Mute it, set it to Do Not Disturb, or delete and replace it whenever you want.
Ghost can't be used for 911 or emergency calls, so keep your regular line for those.
Get My 985 NumberAbout the 985 area code
Area code
985
State
Louisiana
Overlay code
504
Cities served
12+
The 985 area code covers a broad stretch of southeast Louisiana anchored in Houma, extending to New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Prairieville, Marrero, Laplace, and Slidell. It's the number people in these towns and cities recognize as one of their own.
985 sits next to 504, which serves the nearby New Orleans metro core. The two codes are neighbors rather than an overlay on the same footprint, so when you're calling between them you'll want to dial the full number, area code included, just to be safe.
The whole region runs on Central time. Whether you're texting someone in Houma or calling a contact in Slidell, the clock is the same across the entire 985 footprint, so there's no timezone guesswork when you reach out.
Coverage from public numbering and census data. Sources
Local economy
Why do business in Houma?
The 985 region stretches from Houma through Louisiana communities like Slidell, Laplace, and Prairieville, tying together a mix of smaller cities and towns that all lean on the wider New Orleans metro for work and services.
Healthcare
Hospitals and clinics across the Houma and greater New Orleans area are steady employers, drawing workers from towns throughout the 985 footprint.
Education
Schools and colleges across the region, from Houma to Slidell, anchor a good share of local jobs and community activity.
Logistics
Given the region's position along Louisiana's waterways and highways, shipping and freight work keeps a steady flow of jobs moving through towns like Marrero and Laplace.
985 numbers by city
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I get a 985 phone number?
You pick it in the Ghost app and it's ready in minutes. No waiting around, no store visit, just select 985 and start using the number.
Which cities use the 985 area code?
985 serves Houma along with New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, Prairieville, Marrero, Laplace, and Slidell. It's the local code across a good chunk of southeast Louisiana.
Do I need a new phone or a second device to get a 985 number?
No. Ghost runs as a second line inside the app on the phone you already have, so you keep your personal number exactly as it is and just add the 985 number alongside it.
What does Ghost cost?
Ghost Premium is $60 every 2 months and includes 5 phone numbers, unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada, your choice of area code, and the ability to delete and replace your number. Cancel anytime. No contracts.
Other Louisiana area codes
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