I answered a Q about this many years ago, maybe 10 years ago, and at the time I think there were around 100,000 pay phones in the US. Some were in parks where cell phones were unlikely to work. Several still in New York City when I answered. Some in some rural places. Last I read, they were being removed from most places. They work on the old copper wires I guess and from what I understand those will not be serviced eventually, maybe that has already happened.

I also think it is regressive. Maybe now everyone can get a cell phone? My aunt had a cell phone through Medicaid I think.

I haven’t seen any payphones where I live, but we do have phones that are free to call customer service that are in red British payphone booths.

Maybe airports, bus stations, train stations, still have pay phones? I would think those places and national parks would be the most likely places to hold onto them if they can.

We have two at work in the hospital, actually. Never seen anybody use them.

@Caravanfan Make a call!

A local hamburger restaurant (and drug user hangout) had one of the last ones I’ve seen.
Because of the clientele, and the fact it could also receive calls, everyone figured it was tapped by the cops.

Not that I know of.

I always figured (assumed) that if somenne had an emergency like they needed to make a call urgently for assistance or to call a family member, and they got themselves to a police station, the police would let them use a phone there. Like if you didn’t have a cell phone but you were out and had a flat tire, or your car broke down, you could go to the police department and they’d let you call a tow truck.

Most of phone boxes near me have had the phones replaced with AEDs.

I don’t know about right now, but as of a few years ago (pre-pandemic) the middle and high school near me had them. The neighborhood kids grew up, so I don’t know if they still do.

Both the bus station and. Amtrak train station, have them in my city.

There are a few here and there. The main one I know of was at a gas station . . . and the gas station just got removed recently!

I live in an area where there are no gas stations in the immediate vicinity. i I asked my daughter if her school has a pay phone. She said “what do you mean?” I described it as a phone where you pay money to make a call. She said no, if you need to make a call you just go to the office and say “I need to call my mom” or something like that and they let you use the phone.

I know if you went to the police department here and asked to use the phone they would most likely let you.

When they became rare, I developed a habit of photographing payphones. The most recent pics are from 2019, taken in the Milwaukee WI county courthouse.

I am sure I’ve seen some since, I will be more vigilant, thanks for the reminder.

Working in a hospital with some portions built before 2000 AD, I notice empty niches in the halls where I believe payphones once dwelt.

@JLeslie I would but I don’t carry change with me.

@Caravanfan Just curious, how much is it?

@JLeslie Next time I’m there I’ll look.

2019 – Pay phone – Evanston IL public library USA
2019 – Pay phone – US Highway 285 – Colorado USA
2017 – Pay phone – Chicago IL USA – Roosevelt CTA station after Obama’s farewell speech