Area code
839
839 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to South Carolina, which has 6 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 839
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 839 at a glance
NANPA lists 179 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 839, held by 26 holders across 52 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2020-05-26 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 803 (1947-01-01) |
| Prefixes in use | 179 |
| Pooled prefixes | 179 (100%) |
| Rate centers | 52 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 26 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2020-03-27 to 2026-06-05 (177 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 97 |
Rate centers in area code 839
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| COLUMBIA | 26 | 15% |
| NEWBERRY | 20 | 11% |
| BARNWELL | 16 | 9% |
| CHESTER | 13 | 7% |
| ORANGEBURG | 13 | 7% |
| AIKEN | 10 | 6% |
| ROCK HILL | 6 | 3% |
| CAMDEN | 5 | 3% |
| 44 other rate centers | 70 | 39% |
Who holds the prefixes in 839
New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 56 (31%). 100% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 56 | 31% |
| Onvoy | 29 | 16% |
| Ton80 Communications | 23 | 13% |
| Fractel | 18 | 10% |
| Onvoy Spectrum | 8 | 4% |
| Verizon Wireless | 8 | 4% |
| 20 other carriers | 37 | 21% |
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 839
- 1947-01-01 Area code 803, named as the parent of 839 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2020-05-26 Area code 839 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 839
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
- 843 about 72 mi
- 854 about 74 mi
- 864 about 85 mi
- 704 about 91 mi
- 821 about 91 mi
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 839
97 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 34 |
| Aiken, SC | 6 |
| Rock Hill, SC | 5 |
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 839 numbers
147 FCC complaints are on file for 141 numbers in 839, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2025 | 35 |
Other area codes in South Carolina
South Carolina is one state with 6 area codes in the NANPA table. 839 is one of them.
Next to 839 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 839 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 839 was first assigned in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina next to a 839 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 839
Where is area code 839?
NANPA assigns area code 839 to South Carolina, United States.
In which state does area code 839 sit?
South Carolina. 839 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 839 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 839 are Columbia, SC, Aiken, SC and Rock Hill, SC. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 839?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 839, New Cingular Wireless PCS holds the most prefixes, 56 prefixes or 31%.
Which time zone does 839 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 839 as Eastern (E).
What year did 839 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2020-05-26, so 839 has been in use since 2020.
Does area code 839 have an overlay?
Yes. 803 (in service 1947-01-01) shares the same area with 839, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 839?
The area codes closest to 839, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 843 (about 72 miles), 854 (about 74 miles), 864 (about 85 miles), 704 (about 91 miles) and 821 (about 91 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 839 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 179 prefixes in service in 839, spread over 52 rate centers and 26 holders.
Are there complaints about 839 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 147 complaints for 141 numbers in 839. 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.