Covering western and northern Quebec, area code 819 serves cities like Gatineau, Sherbrooke, and Val-d'Or. Dating back to 1957, the region mixes Quebecois culture with proximity to Ottawa, making it a bilingual and politically active area. It features natural beauty like the Laurentians and the Outaouais River alongside industrial towns and university cities. An overlay, 873, was added to accommodate growing demand in this diverse territory.