--- title: "Area code 276: Virginia, United States" url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/276.md" canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/276" last_updated: "2026-10-23" type: "reference" summary: "Area code 276 serves Virginia, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Virginia." --- # Area code 276: Virginia, United States Area code 276 serves Virginia, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Virginia. NANPA lists 370 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 276, held by 43 holders across 78 rate centers. Centurylink-Va holds the most prefixes, 46 (12%). 89% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies. The FCC unwanted-call data has 1,188 complaints on file for 999 numbers in 276, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings. ## Facts - In service since: 2001-09-01 - Time zone: Eastern (E) - Prefixes in use: 370 - Pooled prefixes: 329 (89%) - Rate centers: 78 - Companies holding prefixes: 43 - Assignment dates on file: 2001-03-08 to 2026-08-17 (201 prefixes) - ZIP codes in its places: 59 ## Rate centers | Rate center | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | ABINGDON | 25 | 7% | | NORTON | 25 | 7% | | MARTINSVL | 20 | 5% | | WYTHEVILLE | 19 | 5% | | BRISTOL | 16 | 4% | | RICHLANDS | 14 | 4% | | GALAX | 11 | 3% | | MARION | 11 | 3% | | 70 other rate centers | 229 | 62% | ## Carriers | Holder | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | Centurylink-Va | 46 | 12% | | Onvoy | 33 | 9% | | Verizon Wireless | 29 | 8% | | Verizon Virginia | 27 | 7% | | New Cingular Wireless PCS | 24 | 6% | | Brightspeed Of Virginia | 21 | 6% | | 37 other carriers | 190 | 51% | 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. ## History - 1995-07-15: Area code 540, named as the parent of 276 in the NANPA report, was in service. - 2001-09-01: Area code 276 went into service. ## Nearest area codes The area codes closest to 276, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 828 (about 97 miles), 336 (about 105 miles), 743 (about 109 miles), 606 (about 112 miles) and 704 (about 121 miles). ## ZIP codes 59 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Bristol, VA (5 ZIP codes), Abingdon, VA (3 ZIP codes) and Appalachia, VA (1 ZIP code). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes. ## Complaints on file 1,188 complaints for 999 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year: - 2023: 64 - 2024: 76 - 2025: 76 ## Questions ### Where is area code 276? NANPA assigns area code 276 to Virginia, United States. ### In which state does area code 276 sit? Virginia. 276 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state. ### Which places does area code 276 cover? The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 276 are Bristol, VA, Abingdon, VA and Appalachia, VA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them. ### Who owns area code 276? NANPA assigns area codes. Within 276, Centurylink-Va holds the most prefixes, 46 prefixes or 12%. ### Which time zone does 276 use? The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 276 as Eastern (E). ### What year did 276 enter service? The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2001-09-01, so 276 has been in use since 2001. ### Does area code 276 have an overlay? The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 276. ### Which area codes are nearest to 276? The area codes closest to 276, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 828 (about 97 miles), 336 (about 105 miles), 743 (about 109 miles), 606 (about 112 miles) and 704 (about 121 miles). ### How many prefixes does area code 276 have? NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 370 prefixes in service in 276, spread over 78 rate centers and 43 holders. ### Are there complaints about 276 numbers? The FCC data on file has 1,188 complaints for 999 numbers in 276. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe. Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).