The 411 on the (212)

Did you know that area codes weren't conceived until the late '40s, with New Jersey's (201) -- introduced in 1951 -- being the first? Mashable reports that there were originally 90 codes, which were given out based on population. Cities with the largest populations received codes that were easiest to dial on a rotatory phone, hence New York's (212), Chicago's (312) and Los Angeles' (213). This is just one fun factoid from Mashable's 10 Fascinating Facts About Phone Numbers -- how phone numbers were invented, the most expensive phone number ever, and phone numbers in music are also covered -- which you can read HERE.