This file was last updated 5 Sep 2011. It requires 2 pages to print in portrait mode. ================================================================================ Social Security Numbers --- The SSN Numbering Scheme ================================================================================ The nine-digit SSN is composed of three parts: The first set of three digits is called the Area Number The second set of two digits is called the Group Number The final set of four digits is the Serial Number Area Number: -------------- The Area Number is assigned by geographical region. Prior to 1972, cards were issued in local Social Security offices throughout the country and the Area Number signified the State in which the card was issued -- not necessarily the State where the applicant lived. A person could apply for their card in any Social Security office. In 1972 the SSA began assigning SSNs and issuing cards centrally from Baltimore. The area number assigned has been based on the ZIP code of the mailing address provided on the application for the original Social Security card. The applicant's mailing address does not have to be the same as their place of residence. In no instance does the Area Number necessarily represent the State of residence of the applicant. One should not make too much of the "geographical code." It was not meant to be any kind of useable geographical information. The numbering scheme was designed in 1936 (pre-computers) to make it easier for the SSA to store the applications in their files in Baltimore. The files were organized by regions as well as alphabetically. It was really just a bookkeeping device for their own internal use and was never intended to be anything more than that. Group Number: -------------- Within each area, the Group Number (middle two digits) ranges from 01 to 99. They are not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, Group Numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each Area Number allocated to a State. After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99. Group numbers are assigned as follows: ODD - 01, 03, 05, 07, 09------EVEN - 10 to 98 EVEN - 02, 04, 06, 08 ------ODD - 11 to 99 Serial Number: -------------- Within each group, the Serial Numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999. ================================================================================ Areas Of Issuance: ================================================================================ 001-003 -- New Hampshire 518-519 -- Idaho 004-007 -- Maine 520 -- Wyoming 008-009 -- Vermont 521-524 -- Colorado 010-034 -- Massachusetts 525 -- New Mexico 035-039 -- Rhode Island 526-527 -- Arizona 040-049 -- Connecticut 528-529 -- Utah 050-134 -- New York 530 -- Nevada 135-158 -- New Jersey 531-539 -- Washington 159-211 -- Pennsylvania 540-544 -- Oregon 212-220 -- Maryland 545-573 -- California 221-222 -- Delaware 574 -- Alaska 223-231 -- Virginia 575-576 -- Hawaii 232 -- West Virginia 577-579 -- District of Columbia 232 -- North Carolina - Group 30 580 -- Virgin Islands 233-236 -- West Virginia 581-584 -- Puerto Rico 237-246 -- North Carolina 585 -- New Mexico 247-251 -- South Carolina 586 -- Pacific Islands 252-260 -- Georgia 587-588 -- Mississippi 261-267 -- Florida 589-595 -- Florida 268-302 -- Ohio 596-599 -- Puerto Rico 303-317 -- Indiana 600-601 -- Arizona 318-361 -- Illinois 602-626 -- California 362-386 -- Michigan 627-645 -- Texas 387-399 -- Wisconsin 646-647 -- Utah 400-407 -- Kentucky 648-649 -- New Mexico 408-415 -- Tennessee 650-653 -- Colorado 416-424 -- Alabama 654-658 -- South Carolina 425-428 -- Mississippi 659-665 -- Louisiana 429-432 -- Arkansas 667-675 -- Georgia 433-439 -- Louisiana 676-679 -- Arkansas 440-448 -- Oklahoma 680 -- Nevada 449-467 -- Texas 681-690 -- North Carolina 468-477 -- Minnesota 691-699 -- Virginia 478-485 -- Iowa 700-728 -- Railroad Board 486-500 -- Missouri 729-733 -- Enumeration at Entry 501-502 -- North Dakota 750-751 -- Hawaii 503-504 -- South Dakota 752-755 -- Mississippi 505-508 -- Nebraska 756-763 -- Tennessee 509-515 -- Kansas 764-765 -- Arizona 516-517 -- Montana 766-772 -- Florida -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Social Security application can contain a great deal of information about your ancestor at the time they filled out their application for a social security card. The application can contain their their age and address at the time the application was completed, the names of close relatives, the name of their employer, where they were born, and much more. You can currently request a copy of the Social Security Number Application (Form SS-5) of a deceased person online at: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp The cost of such a request is currently $27.00 if the SSN of the deceased individual is provided, $29.00 if the SSN of the deceased individual is not provided. While not infallable, just knowing where a Social Security number was issued can often indicate in which part of the country you should begin your search regarding the individual in question.