See What State Everyone Is Born in Based on Their Social Security Number

The United States began issuing Social Security numbers (SSNs) in November 1936. A unique nine-digit number is assigned to every U.S. citizen. SSNs are also assigned to permanent residents and eligible nonimmigrant workers within the United States. (And, since we’re on the subject, here is our super helpful guide to understanding Social Security today, with all benefits and strategies explained.)

The original purpose of SSNs was to enable the Social Security Administration (SSA) to track individual accounts, but these numbers have since become a widely accepted form of identification used by employers, medical providers, schools, government agencies, and so forth.

Each social security number is divided into three parts. The first three digits are the area number, the middle two are the group number, and the last four are the serial number. So, using this configuration, the format of a SSN is AAA-GG-SSSS.

Assigning Area Numbers

The system of assigning SSNs has changed over the years.

Originally, the area number represented the location of the Social Security office that issued a specific Social Security card. However, starting in 1973, the SSA began using the ZIP Code on an application to assign the area number. This practice remained in effect until June 25, 2011, when the SSA adopted a new randomization method designed to “protect the integrity of the SSN” and “extend the longevity of the nine-digit SSN nationwide.”

For those born in the U.S. between 1973 and June 2011, the first three numbers of their SSNs were assigned to the ZIP Code found on their Social Security application. Usually (but not always), that ZIP Code corresponded with the place of their birth. So, in most cases, you can tell where a person was born by the first three digits of their SSN.

Here are the area numbers assigned to all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories during this 38-year period. The states and territories are arranged in ascending order according to their original area numbers. As the nation’s population grew, the original area numbers for some states were exhausted and new area numbers were assigned. This is why 16 states and one territory have nonconsecutive area numbers.

Note: There are overlapping numbers between North Carolina and West Virginia, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Oh, and here’s a fun fact: the area number “666” was never issued.

24/7 Wall St. used information from the Social Security Administration for this story.

1. New Hampshire

New Hampshire was assigned the first area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 001-003

2. Maine

Maine was given four area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 004-007

3. Vermont

Vermont was assigned two area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 008-009

4. Massachusetts

Massachusetts was assigned more area numbers than any other New England state.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 010-034

5. Rhode Island

Rhode Island had five area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 035-039

6. Connecticut

Connecticut was assigned ten area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 040-049

7. New York

New York was given one of the biggest original allotments of area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 050-134

8. New Jersey

New Jersey has the highest population density in the nation, so it is no surprise that the state was given a large allotment of area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 135-158

9. Pennsylvania

The Keystone State’s area numbers broke into the 200s.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 159-211

10. Maryland

Maryland was assigned nine area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 212-220

11. Delaware

The tiny state of Delaware was assigned two area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 221-222

12. Virginia

Virginia’s growth necessitated a second allotment of area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 223-231, 691-699

13. West Virginia

The crossover of area number 232 between West Virginia and North Carolina can be confusing.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 232 (except group number 30) -236

14. North Carolina

North Carolina required additional area numbers as it grew.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 232 (group number 30), 237-246, 681-690

15. South Carolina

The Palmetto State also needed a new batch of area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 247-251, 654-658

16. Georgia

Georgia’s growth demanded more area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 252-260, 667-675

17. Florida

The SSA kept adding numbers as Florida kept growing.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 261-267, 589-595, 766-772

18. Ohio

The Buckeye State broke into the 300s for area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 268-302

19. Indiana

Indiana was assigned 15 area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 303-317

20. Illinois

Illinois houses one of the nation’s largest cities, so it was assigned a large allotment of area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 318-361

21. Michigan

Michigan was assigned 25 area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 362-386

22. Wisconsin

Wisconsin finished up the 300s among area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 387-399

23. Kentucky

Kentucky received eight area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 400-407

24. Tennessee

Tennessee’s growth required the assignment of additional area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 408-415, 756-763

25. Alabama

Alabama was assigned nine area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 416-424

26. Mississippi

Mississippi required two additional allotments of area numbers as its population grew.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 425-428, 587-588, 752-755

27. Arkansas

The original four area numbers did not account for Arkansas’ growth, so four more were added.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 429-432, 676-679

28. Louisiana

Louisiana received two different allotments of area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 433-439, 659-665

29. Oklahoma

Oklahoma was assigned nine area numbers

• Social Security Area Numbers: 440-448

30. Texas

Texas is the second-most populous state in the nation, so it is no surprise that it required additional area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 449-467, 627-645

31. Minnesota

Minnesota received ten area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 468-477

32. Iowa

The Hawkeye State was assigned eight area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 478-485

33. Missouri

Missouri opened the 500s among area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 486-500

34. North Dakota

Sparsely populated North Dakota was assigned two area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 501-502

35. South Dakota

Like its neighbor to the north, South Dakota was also allotted two area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 503-504

36. Nebraska

The Cornhusker State was assigned four area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 505-508

37. Kansas

The Sunflower State was given seven area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 509-515

38. Montana

Montana is the fourth-largest state by area, but its small population only garnered two area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 516-517

39. Idaho

The Gem State was assigned two area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 518-519

40. Wyoming

As the least populous state in the nation, Wyoming was only assigned one area number.

• Social Security Area Number: 520

41. Colorado

Colorado’s growth required additional area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 521-524, 650-653

42. New Mexico

New Mexico was originally assigned only one area number, but that would not be enough.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 525, 585, 648-649

43. Arizona

Arizona’s continued growth required multiple assignments of new area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 526-527, 600-601, 764-765

44. Utah

Utah’s original allotment of two area numbers proved insufficient.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 528-529, 646-647

45. Nevada

Nevada required an additional area number, mostly due to the growth of the Las Vegas metro area.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 530, 680

46. Washington State

The Evergreen State was assigned nine area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 531-539

47. Oregon

The SSA assigned five area numbers to Oregon.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 540-544

48. California

California’s many area numbers reflect its status as the nation’s most populous state.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 545-573, 602-626

49. Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the nation by land mass, but only one area number was needed to cover its entire population.

• Social Security Area Number: 574

50. Hawaii

The growth of the Aloha State demanded additional area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 575-576, 750-751

51. District of Columbia

Washington, D.C. was assigned three area numbers.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 577-579

52. U.S. Virgin Islands

The. U.S. Virgin Islands were assigned one area number by the SSA.

• Social Security Area Number: 580

53. Puerto Rico

The first set of five area numbers proved insufficient for Puerto Rico’s growth.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 580-584, 596-599

54. Pacific Ocean Territories

The U.S. Pacific Territories, including Guam, received one area number.

• Social Security Area Numbers: 586