Area code
601
601 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Mississippi, which has 5 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 601
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 601 at a glance
NANPA lists 781 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 601, held by 33 holders across 107 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1947-01-01 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Assigned overlays | 769 (2005-03-14) |
| Prefixes in use | 781 |
| Pooled prefixes | 456 (58%) |
| Rate centers | 107 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 33 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-03 to 2026-06-18 (241 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 125 |
Rate centers in area code 601
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| JACKSON | 155 | 20% |
| HATTIESBG | 55 | 7% |
| MERIDIAN | 49 | 6% |
| VICKSBURG | 31 | 4% |
| LAUREL | 29 | 4% |
| NATCHEZ | 23 | 3% |
| BROOKHAVEN | 20 | 3% |
| MCCOMB | 18 | 2% |
| 99 other rate centers | 401 | 51% |
Who holds the prefixes in 601
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 241 (31%). 58% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| South Central Bell Tel | 241 | 31% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 78 | 10% |
| Telepak Networks | 75 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 74 | 9% |
| Level 3 Communications | 67 | 9% |
| Cellular South | 39 | 5% |
| 27 other carriers | 207 | 27% |
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 601
- 1947-01-01 Area code 601 went into service.
- 1997-09-15 Area code 228 went into service and names 601 as its parent.
- 1999-04-19 Area code 662 went into service and names 601 as its parent.
- 2005-03-14 Area code 769 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 601.
Area codes nearest to 601
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 601
125 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | 27 |
| Meridian, MS | 7 |
| Laurel, MS | 4 |
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 601 numbers
1,959 FCC complaints are on file for 1,519 numbers in 601, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 81 |
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2025 | 91 |
Other area codes in Mississippi
Mississippi is one state with 5 area codes in the NANPA table. 601 is one of them.
Next to 601 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 601 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 601 was first assigned in Mississippi. 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 Mississippi next to a 601 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 601
Where is area code 601?
NANPA assigns area code 601 to Mississippi, United States.
In which state does area code 601 sit?
Mississippi. 601 is one of 5 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 601 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 601 are Jackson, MS, Meridian, MS and Laurel, MS. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 601?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 601, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 241 prefixes or 31%.
Which time zone does 601 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 601 as Central (C).
What year did 601 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 601 has been in use since 1947.
Does area code 601 have an overlay?
Yes. 769 (in service 2005-03-14) shares the same area with 601, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 601?
The area codes closest to 601, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 228 (about 122 miles), 225 (about 126 miles), 662 (about 131 miles), 985 (about 132 miles) and 251 (about 133 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 601 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 781 prefixes in service in 601, spread over 107 rate centers and 33 holders.
Are there complaints about 601 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 1,959 complaints for 1,519 numbers in 601. 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.