Only older Portland residents will get this funny meme
Recently, a meme went viral within PDX circles, which shows a lord looking very smug. Above this image was written “I can’t be the only one”, whilst it also read “How people with 503 numbers look at people with 971 numbers in Oregon.” Surprisingly, this also caused a lot of debate on the subject and led to a lot of nostalgia as well. Below is the image in question.
For those too young enough to remember, the 503 number was the original Oregon phone code. In other words, you’d have to be a bit of a Portland/Oregon OG to remember it. Interestingly, some locals still had their 503 phone number, with many claiming they had theirs since the early 2000s. Even more impressive, some even had theirs since the 90s as well.
Due to creating quite the reaction, one user wrote, “I moved from out of state and have a 503, my wife has lived here her whole life and has a 971, and I never pass up an opportunity to remind the peasant of her place.” Whilst another added “Had the same number since 2002, still get calls for the person who had mine before me lol.”
With this in mind, we’d love to hear your thoughts on whether you still have your 503 number, or whether you’ve become a commoner with a 971 phone instead!
I am 56 and an Oregonian for life. I’ve had 3 phone numbers in my life time including childhood home phone all of which were/are 503 . I still remember all 3 of them. I had never thought about the prefix in that way before. But Ya I am Portland Royalty ……
Me also, I am nearly 78 and have had nothing but 503 numbers and have lived in the Portland area my entire life. Even my cell phone is 503
Ours used to be a Globe 8 number on a crank phone on the wall with party lines. No privacy. Hear the phone ring for someone else and listen in on the conversation, or join in. Each phone had a long, short ring.
Had the same number for 45-years. Remember when it became 10-digits. Heck, I remember: Belmont——.
Had my phone number since 1980 – had it transferred to my cell phone in 2000.
When I moved to Oregon as a child my parent used just a seven digit phone #. But then again, I remember the novelty of Princess phones. Needless to say, in spite of all this self inflicted ageism, my prefix will always remain: 503.