Area code
681
681 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 681
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 681 at a glance
NANPA lists 490 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 681, held by 48 holders across 213 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2009-03-28 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 304 (1947-01-01) |
| Prefixes in use | 490 |
| Pooled prefixes | 486 (99%) |
| Rate centers | 213 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 48 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2009-03-02 to 2026-07-08 (481 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 157 |
Rate centers in area code 681
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CHRLSTNZN1 | 38 | 8% |
| HNTNGTNZN1 | 33 | 7% |
| PRKRSBGZN1 | 25 | 5% |
| LOGAN | 18 | 4% |
| BLUEFIELD | 12 | 2% |
| MARTINSBG | 12 | 2% |
| BECKLEY | 11 | 2% |
| FAIRMONT | 11 | 2% |
| 205 other rate centers | 330 | 67% |
Who holds the prefixes in 681
New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 83 (17%). 99% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 83 | 17% |
| Onvoy | 83 | 17% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 38 | 8% |
| T-Mobile USA | 29 | 6% |
| Coretel West Virginia | 22 | 4% |
| CSC Voice | 22 | 4% |
| 42 other carriers | 213 | 43% |
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 681
- 1947-01-01 Area code 304, named as the parent of 681 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2009-03-28 Area code 681 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 681
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 681
157 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 681 numbers
519 FCC complaints are on file for 464 numbers in 681, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 63 |
| 2025 | 56 |
Other area codes in West Virginia
West Virginia is one state with 2 area codes in the NANPA table. 681 is one of them.
Next to 681 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 681 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 681 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 681 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 681
Where is area code 681?
NANPA assigns area code 681 to West Virginia, United States.
In which state does area code 681 sit?
West Virginia. 681 is one of 2 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 681 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 681 are Morgantown, WV, Clarksburg, WV and Beckley, WV. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 681?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 681, New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 83 prefixes or 17%.
Which time zone does 681 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 681 as Eastern (E).
What year did 681 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2009-03-28, so 681 has been in use since 2009.
Does area code 681 have an overlay?
Yes. 304 (in service 1947-01-01) shares the same area with 681, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 681?
The area codes closest to 681, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 540 (about 95 miles), 826 (about 96 miles), 740 (about 110 miles), 220 (about 115 miles) and 276 (about 134 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 681 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 490 prefixes in service in 681, spread over 213 rate centers and 48 holders.
Are there complaints about 681 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 519 complaints for 464 numbers in 681. 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.