Area code
252
252 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to North Carolina, which has 10 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 252
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
Digits with or without punctuation work. Numbers outside the US are read with the +country code.
Area code 252 at a glance
NANPA lists 690 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 252, held by 47 holders across 92 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1998-03-22 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Prefixes in use | 690 |
| Pooled prefixes | 549 (80%) |
| Rate centers | 92 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 47 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-19 to 2026-08-05 (319 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 89 |
Rate centers in area code 252
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| GREENVILLE | 70 | 10% |
| ROCKYMOUNT | 64 | 9% |
| WILSON | 34 | 5% |
| NEW BERN | 33 | 5% |
| KINSTON | 27 | 4% |
| HENDERSON | 23 | 3% |
| ELIZABTHCY | 22 | 3% |
| MOREHEADCY | 21 | 3% |
| 84 other rate centers | 396 | 57% |
Who holds the prefixes in 252
Brightspeed Of Eastern North Carolina holds the most prefixes, 207 (30%). 80% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brightspeed Of Eastern North Carolina | 207 | 30% |
| Verizon Wireless | 75 | 11% |
| Paetec Itel | 48 | 7% |
| Level 3 Communications | 46 | 7% |
| Onvoy | 46 | 7% |
| United States Cellular | 32 | 5% |
| 41 other carriers | 236 | 34% |
A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 252
- 1954-01-01 Area code 919, named as the parent of 252 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1998-03-22 Area code 252 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 252
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
- 919 about 83 mi
- 984 about 83 mi
- 757 about 94 mi
- 948 about 94 mi
- 472 about 110 mi
ZIP codes in area code 252
89 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 5 |
| New Bern, NC | 5 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 5 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 252 numbers
2,077 FCC complaints are on file for 1,804 numbers in 252, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 119 |
| 2024 | 137 |
| 2025 | 106 |
Other area codes in North Carolina
North Carolina is one state with 10 area codes in the NANPA table. 252 is one of them.
Next to 252 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 252 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 252 was first assigned in North Carolina. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in North Carolina next to a 252 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 252
Where is area code 252?
NANPA assigns area code 252 to North Carolina, United States.
In which state does area code 252 sit?
North Carolina. 252 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 252 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 252 are Greenville, NC, New Bern, NC and Rocky Mount, NC. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 252?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 252, Brightspeed Of Eastern North Carolina holds the most prefixes, 207 prefixes or 30%.
Which time zone does 252 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 252 as Eastern (E).
What year did 252 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1998-03-22, so 252 has been in use since 1998.
Does area code 252 have an overlay?
The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 252.
Which area codes are nearest to 252?
The area codes closest to 252, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 919 (about 83 miles), 984 (about 83 miles), 757 (about 94 miles), 948 (about 94 miles) and 472 (about 110 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 252 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 690 prefixes in service in 252, spread over 92 rate centers and 47 holders.
Are there complaints about 252 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 2,077 complaints for 1,804 numbers in 252. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.