Area code
304
304 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to West Virginia, which has 2 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 304
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 304 at a glance
NANPA lists 785 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 304, held by 45 holders across 228 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 681 (2009-03-28) |
| Prefixes in use | 785 |
| Pooled prefixes | 507 (65%) |
| Rate centers | 228 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 45 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-10 to 2026-01-08 (176 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 169 |
Rate centers in area code 304
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CHRLSTNZN1 | 70 | 9% |
| HNTNGTNZN1 | 37 | 5% |
| MORGANTOWN | 33 | 4% |
| CLARKSBURG | 27 | 3% |
| BECKLEY | 25 | 3% |
| PRKRSBGZN1 | 25 | 3% |
| WHELNGZON1 | 24 | 3% |
| MARTINSBG | 21 | 3% |
| 220 other rate centers | 523 | 67% |
Who holds the prefixes in 304
Frontier West Virginia holds the most prefixes, 255 (32%). 65% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Frontier West Virginia | 255 | 32% |
| Frontier Of WV | 86 | 11% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 72 | 9% |
| Stratuswave Comm LLC WV | 47 | 6% |
| Fibernet | 43 | 5% |
| Verizon Wireless | 42 | 5% |
| 39 other carriers | 240 | 31% |
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 304
- 1947-01-01 Area code 304 went into service.
- 2009-03-28 Area code 681 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 304.
Area codes nearest to 304
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 304
169 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | 7 |
| Clarksburg, WV | 3 |
| Beckley, WV | 2 |
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 304 numbers
3,905 FCC complaints are on file for 2,890 numbers in 304, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 104 |
| 2024 | 364 |
| 2025 | 134 |
Other area codes in West Virginia
West Virginia is one state with 2 area codes in the NANPA table. 304 is one of them.
Next to 304 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 304 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 304 was first assigned in West Virginia. 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 West Virginia next to a 304 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 304
Where is area code 304?
NANPA assigns area code 304 to West Virginia, United States.
In which state does area code 304 sit?
West Virginia. 304 is one of 2 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 304 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 304 are Morgantown, WV, Clarksburg, WV and Beckley, WV. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 304?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 304, Frontier West Virginia holds the most prefixes, 255 prefixes or 32%.
Which time zone does 304 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 304 as Eastern (E).
What year did 304 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 304 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 304 have an overlay?
Yes. 681 (in service 2009-03-28) shares the same area with 304, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 304?
The area codes closest to 304, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 540 (about 95 miles), 826 (about 97 miles), 740 (about 110 miles), 220 (about 114 miles) and 276 (about 133 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 304 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 785 prefixes in service in 304, spread over 228 rate centers and 45 holders.
Are there complaints about 304 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 3,905 complaints for 2,890 numbers in 304. 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.