---
title: "Area code 501: Arkansas, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/501.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/501"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 501 serves Arkansas, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Arkansas."
---

# Area code 501: Arkansas, United States

Area code 501 serves Arkansas, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Arkansas.

NANPA lists 628 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 501, held by 46 holders across 61 rate centers.
The largest rate center is LITTLEROCK, with 252 prefixes (40%).
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 160 (25%). 76% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 2,318 complaints on file for 1,829 numbers in 501, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1947-01-01
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 628
- Pooled prefixes: 475 (76%)
- Rate centers: 61
- Companies holding prefixes: 46
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-18 to 2026-08-12 (254 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 71

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LITTLEROCK | 252 | 40% |
| HOTSPRINGS | 40 | 6% |
| CONWAY | 35 | 6% |
| BENTON | 28 | 4% |
| SEARCY | 21 | 3% |
| CABOT | 15 | 2% |
| MALVERN | 12 | 2% |
| SYVNHLSHWD | 12 | 2% |
| 53 other rate centers | 213 | 34% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Southwestern Bell | 160 | 25% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 86 | 14% |
| Verizon Wireless | 54 | 9% |
| Level 3 Communications | 48 | 8% |
| T-Mobile USA | 42 | 7% |
| Onvoy | 39 | 6% |
| 40 other carriers | 199 | 32% |

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

- 1947-01-01: Area code 501 went into service.
- 1997-04-14: Area code 870 went into service and names 501 as its parent.
- 2002-01-19: Area code 479 went into service and names 501 as its parent.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 501, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 870 (about 16 miles), 327 (about 48 miles), 479 (about 107 miles), 901 (about 137 miles) and 662 (about 171 miles).

## ZIP codes

71 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Little Rock, AR (25 ZIP codes), Benton, AR (4 ZIP codes) and Conway, AR (4 ZIP codes). 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

2,318 complaints for 1,829 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 90
- 2024: 94
- 2025: 121

## Questions

### Where is area code 501?

NANPA assigns area code 501 to Arkansas, United States.

### In which state does area code 501 sit?

Arkansas. 501 is one of 4 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 501 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 501 are Little Rock, AR, Benton, AR and Conway, AR. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 501?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 501, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 160 prefixes or 25%.

### Which time zone does 501 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 501 as Central (C).

### What year did 501 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 501 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 501 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 501.

### Which area codes are nearest to 501?

The area codes closest to 501, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 870 (about 16 miles), 327 (about 48 miles), 479 (about 107 miles), 901 (about 137 miles) and 662 (about 171 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 501 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 628 prefixes in service in 501, spread over 61 rate centers and 46 holders.

### Are there complaints about 501 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 2,318 complaints for 1,829 numbers in 501. 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).