[ansible90]

Never saw this until I got to the area. Magnets, keychains, t-shirts, mugs, with the 603 and 802 area codes, plus the state map. Where did this come from?

[cgregor]

Maybe in the '90's when a short-lived group calling itself something like the Independent Republic of Vermont started pushing for secession. It folded when its founder turned out to be a David Duke clone, if I remember correctly. The teabagger element sort of picked up on it after 9-11 and brought in the "Don't Tread on Me" flags as well. Now it's just a tourist kotschke.

[Biker53]

Regardless of the origins, 802 has become a unifying symbol of VT. It is an odd identity piece perhaps but it has become an identifier that a Vermonter would recognize anywhere, say if they were in California and saw someone wearing a teeshirt or sweatshirt with 802 on it, or with an 802 sticker on their vehicle. Sort of a secret password that says I'm one of you.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by cgregor

Maybe in the '90's when a short-lived group calling itself something like the Independent Republic of Vermont started pushing for secession. It folded when its founder turned out to be a David Duke clone, if I remember correctly. The teabagger element sort of picked up on it after 9-11 and brought in the "Don't Tread on Me" flags as well. Now it's just a tourist kotschke.

No, he wasn't. But he attended secessionist conventions and had dealings with groups that unfortunately included the southern neo-confederate brand of secessionist.

[harry chickpea]

802 was in place in the 1970s or earlier. Harbor Hide-a-Way 802-985-3585 Mountain View Drive-In Theatre 802-655-0407 Both long gone.

There is an even more rare and coveted number associated with old native Vermonters - 008. If you are one, you recognize it immediately when you see it.

[cgregor]

What's the story behind 008?

[harpoonalt]

Originally Posted by cgregor

What's the story behind 008?

SS# prefix

[Isabella Tiger Moth]

We're down in Hampton Roads, VA, and locals (how is it I've lived here almost ten years and still don't consider myself a local????) refer to it as "The 757" (which is our area code). I thought it was unique to HR, but maybe it's just a thing?

[Boston_Burbs]

Western Massachusetts uses 413 a lot as well.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by ansible90

Never saw this until I got to the area. Magnets, keychains, t-shirts, mugs, with the 603 and 802 area codes, plus the state map. Where did this come from?

This goes back to early west coast rappers who would use their area code '213' in song and to represent their community. The 802 is a 'cool' way to say you're from Vermont.

Not many states can be identified by a single area code. Unless this has changed, there are only 12 states with one area code:
Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.

I think it is rather neat that 4 of those 12 states are in New England.