Area code 903 covers northeastern Texas, including cities such as Tyler, Longview, Texarkana, and Paris. It was created in 1990 from a split of area code 214 to serve the growing population in rural and suburban parts of the state. In 2003, area code 430 was introduced as an overlay, requiring ten-digit dialing. The region blends agriculture, manufacturing, and education, with several small colleges and trade centers. 903 remains a familiar and trusted area code throughout East Texas, often associated with its small-town values and steady growth.