The decline of pay phones in every state

A chart showing that under 100,000 payphones remain as of 2016, declining from over 2 million in 2000.
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As of 2016, under 100,000 pay phones remained in the U.S., a 95% decline from 2000, when there were over 2 million. This number has likely shrunk significantly since the FCC last collected the data.

In 2016, New York state accounted for 1 in 5 of the country's remaining pay phones, but many have since been converted for new purposes. New York City removed its last public pay phone in 2016. While some privately operated phones remain, many of the city's phone booths have since been transformed into Wi-Fi corners, embracing a smartphone-centered era of technology.

Read on to find out how pay phones have declined in every state and Washington D.C. during the 2000s and 2010s.

A national look
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Public payphones in Waikiki.
image_vulture // Shutterstock

- 59.6% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,615 (253.2 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 8,943 in 2000 (736.9 phones per 100K people)

#51. Hawai'i
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Charleston skyline on the Kanawha River.
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

- 85.7% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,678 (91.6 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 11,704 in 2000 (647.7 phones per 100K people)

#50. West Virginia
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New York City subway station entrance at 14th Street with pay phone.
Little Vignettes Photo // Shutterstock

- 87.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 20,716 (105.5 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 171,098 in 2000 (900.4 phones per 100K people)

#49. New York
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Aerial view Omaha in summer.
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- 88.1% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,150 (60.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 9,668 in 2000 (564.1 phones per 100K people)

#48. Nebraska
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Sourdough Dru's Alaskan cabin with telephone booth.
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

- 90.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 440 (59.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 4,583 in 2000 (729.8 phones per 100K people)

#47. Alaska
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Aerial view of Reno.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- 92.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,235 (42.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 17,504 in 2000 (867.1 phones per 100K people)

#46. Nevada
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Pittsburgh cityscape over the Allegheny River.
ESB Professional // Shutterstock

- 93.1% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 6,224 (48.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 90,603 in 2000 (737.6 phones per 100K people)

#45. Pennsylvania
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Duluth skyline from lake.
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- 93.6% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,073 (19.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 16,831 in 2000 (341.1 phones per 100K people)

#44. Minnesota
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Des Moines cityscape and sculpture park.
Grindstone Media Group // Shutterstock

- 93.7% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 700 (22.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 11,183 in 2000 (381.8 phones per 100K people)

#43. Iowa
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Phone booth at a stop in the Mojave desert.
Helga_foto // Shutterstock

- 93.8% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 16,683 (42.6 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 267,956 in 2000 (788.4 phones per 100K people)

#42. California
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Rural telephone along railroad tracks on sunny day.
JWCohen // Shutterstock

- 93.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 418 (24.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 6,854 in 2000 (527.5 phones per 100K people)

#41. Idaho
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Burlington waterfront.
Erika J Mitchell // Shutterstock

- 94.6% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 204 (32.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 3,761 in 2000 (616.9 phones per 100K people)

#40. Vermont
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City of Jackson Hole and surrounding landscape.
C Model // Shutterstock

- 94.8% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 201 (34.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 3,868 in 2000 (782.5 phones per 100K people)

#39. Wyoming
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Payphone on Route 66 in desert.
Gian Sapienza Photography // Shutterstock

- 94.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,695 (24.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 33,363 in 2000 (646.5 phones per 100K people)

#38. Arizona
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Abandoned payphone in Olympic National Park.
Yinspire // Shutterstock

- 95% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,730 (23.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 34,368 in 2000 (581.5 phones per 100K people)

#37. Washington
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Portland cityscape from Pittock Mansion.
Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock

- 95% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,076 (26.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 21,659 in 2000 (631.5 phones per 100K people)

#36. Oregon
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Rural barn painted with Texas flag.
Joe Belanger // Shutterstock

- 95.3% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 7,006 (25.1 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 147,720 in 2000 (705.3 phones per 100K people)

#35. Texas
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Aerial view of the Salt Lake City downtown in autumn.
Maciej Bledowski // Shutterstock

- 95.3% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 542 (17.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 11,466 in 2000 (510.8 phones per 100K people)

#34. Utah
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Telephone booth in forest.
Kerry Hargrove

- 95.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,246 (22.5 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 27,035 in 2000 (624.8 phones per 100K people)

#33. Colorado
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Louisville cityscape.
f11photo // Shutterstock

- 95.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 880 (19.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 19,233 in 2000 (475 phones per 100K people)

#32. Kentucky
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Aerial view of Grand Forks.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- 95.5% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 113 (15 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 2,507 in 2000 (390.5 phones per 100K people)

#31. North Dakota
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Aerial view of Market Square and North Church in Portsmouth.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

- 95.5% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 364 (27.1 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 8,132 in 2000 (655.9 phones per 100K people)

#30. New Hampshire
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Aerial view of Boston.
Richard Cavalleri // Shutterstock

- 95.7% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 2,268 (33.2 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 53,034 in 2000 (833.7 phones per 100K people)

#29. Massachusetts
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Portland Head Lighthouse and coastline.
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

- 95.8% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 317 (23.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 7,496 in 2000 (587 phones per 100K people)

#28. Maine
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View of Missoula from Mount Sentinel.
Jon Bilous // Shutterstock

- 95.8% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 245 (23.5 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 5,884 in 2000 (651 phones per 100K people)

#27. Montana
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Jersey Shore coastline aerial view.
Vincent DeMilio // Shutterstock

- 96.3% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,517 (39.6 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 95,781 in 2000 (1136.1 phones per 100K people)

#26. New Jersey
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Red telephone box in front of downtown shops.
mTaira // Shutterstock

- 96.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 2,540 (21.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 71,266 in 2000 (627.1 phones per 100K people)

#25. Ohio
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Payphones and Chicago skyline.
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

- 96.8% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,423 (26.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 106,368 in 2000 (855.4 phones per 100K people)

#24. Illinois
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Vintage blue phone booth in a grassy park.
Jesse Stephens // Shutterstock

- 96.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 530 (17.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 16,954 in 2000 (632.9 phones per 100K people)

#23. Arkansas
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Milwaukee cityscape with Art Museum with the Northwestern Mutual building.
Tony Savino // Shutterstock

- 96.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,104 (19.1 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 35,383 in 2000 (658.4 phones per 100K people)

#22. Wisconsin
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Wilmington waterfront and skyline.
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- 96.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 175 (18.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 5,694 in 2000 (724.1 phones per 100K people)

#21. Delaware
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Aerial view of Winston-Salem.
Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock

- 97% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,401 (13.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 45,943 in 2000 (568.5 phones per 100K people)

#20. North Carolina
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Canal walkway in Indianapolis during summer.
KYPhua // Shutterstock

- 97% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,286 (19.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 42,429 in 2000 (696.5 phones per 100K people)

#19. Indiana
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Payphone near Gulfport Municipal Marina.
Del Harper // Shutterstock

- 97% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 3,605 (17.5 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 119,207 in 2000 (742.8 phones per 100K people)

#18. Florida
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Pay phones in Keystone, South Dakota.
Kurt Nichols // Shutterstock

- 97.2% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 119 (13.8 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 4,326 in 2000 (572.3 phones per 100K people)

#17. South Dakota
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Newspapers and phone booth outside a cafe in Santa Fe.
Lynda McFaul // Shutterstock

- 97.3% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 306 (14.6 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 11,374 in 2000 (624.5 phones per 100K people)

#16. New Mexico
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Aerial view downtown Wichita.
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock

- 97.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 446 (15.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 16,949 in 2000 (629.2 phones per 100K people)

#15. Kansas
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Providence cityscape.
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

- 97.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 235 (22.2 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 8,935 in 2000 (850.7 phones per 100K people)

#14. Rhode Island
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Aerial view of Annapolis and Statehouse.
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock

- 97.5% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,074 (17.9 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 43,336 in 2000 (816 phones per 100K people)

#13. Maryland
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Pennsylvania Avenue and the U.S. Capitol.
Orhan Cam // Shutterstock

- 97.6% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 257 (37.5 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 10,505 in 2000 (1836.4 phones per 100K people)

#12. Washington DC
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Wide view of Alexandria along the Potomac River.
Steve Heap // Shutterstock

- 97.6% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,405 (16.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 57,621 in 2000 (810.9 phones per 100K people)

#11. Virginia
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Payphone near parking lot.
Critical Labz // Shutterstock

- 97.7% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 546 (11.2 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 24,237 in 2000 (544.4 phones per 100K people)

#10. Alabama
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Old payphone stand at rest area.
Fang Deng // Shutterstock

- 97.9% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 611 (12.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 28,444 in 2000 (706.8 phones per 100K people)

#9. South Carolina
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Courthouse and Gateway Arch in St Louis.
photo.ua // Shutterstock

- 98% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 861 (14.1 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 42,510 in 2000 (758.1 phones per 100K people)

#8. Missouri
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Skyline of downtown Hartford from above Charter Oak Landing.
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

- 98% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 515 (14.4 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 25,941 in 2000 (760.3 phones per 100K people)

#7. Connecticut
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Red telephone box in front of building at University of Oklahoma.
WorldStock // Shutterstock

- 98% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 511 (13 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 26,164 in 2000 (757.4 phones per 100K people)

#6. Oklahoma
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Red streetcar on Canal Street in New Orleans.
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- 98.1% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 539 (11.5 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 27,835 in 2000 (622.4 phones per 100K people)

#5. Louisiana
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Downtown Nashville in autumn.
Brian Wilson Photography // Shutterstock

- 98.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 637 (9.6 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 38,929 in 2000 (682.5 phones per 100K people)

#4. Tennessee
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Two vintage pay phones in Augusta.
Wirestock Creators // Shutterstock

- 98.4% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 995 (9.7 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 61,519 in 2000 (747.7 phones per 100K people)

#3. Georgia
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Park and skyscrapers in downtown Detroit.
Gerald Bernard // Shutterstock

- 98.6% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 1,187 (11.9 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 83,159 in 2000 (835.6 phones per 100K people)

#2. Michigan
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Jackson downtown cityscape at the Capitol.
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock

- 98.8% decline in number of pay phones
- Number of pay phones remaining in 2016: 188 (6.3 phones per 100K people)
--- Down from 16,201 in 2000 (568.8 phones per 100K people)

Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.

#1. Mississippi
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A vintage black and white photo of a telephone booth at 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City.
Bettmann // Getty Images