---
title: "Area code 859: Kentucky, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/859.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/859"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 859 serves Kentucky, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Kentucky."
---

# Area code 859: Kentucky, United States

Area code 859 serves Kentucky, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Kentucky.

NANPA lists 561 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 859, held by 38 holders across 42 rate centers.
Windstream Kentucky East, INC. - Lexington holds the most prefixes, 77 (14%). 68% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 3,177 complaints on file for 2,079 numbers in 859, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 2000-04-01
- Time zone: Eastern (E)
- Prefixes in use: 561
- Pooled prefixes: 383 (68%)
- Rate centers: 42
- Companies holding prefixes: 38
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-07 to 2026-05-06 (221 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 74

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LEXINGTON | 164 | 29% |
| COVINGTON | 95 | 17% |
| BOONE | 32 | 6% |
| WINCHESTER | 28 | 5% |
| RICHMOND | 24 | 4% |
| DANVILLE | 16 | 3% |
| MTSTERLING | 13 | 2% |
| BEREA | 11 | 2% |
| 34 other rate centers | 178 | 32% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Windstream Kentucky East, INC. - Lexington | 77 | 14% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 66 | 12% |
| Cincinnati Bell | 57 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 54 | 10% |
| Onvoy | 50 | 9% |
| Level 3 Communications | 49 | 9% |
| 32 other carriers | 208 | 37% |

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

- 1955-01-01: Area code 606, named as the parent of 859 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2000-04-01: Area code 859 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 859, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 502 (about 55 miles), 606 (about 65 miles), 283 (about 76 miles), 513 (about 76 miles) and 326 (about 115 miles).

## ZIP codes

74 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Lexington, KY (39 ZIP codes), Covington, KY (5 ZIP codes) and Berea, KY (2 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

3,177 complaints for 2,079 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 188
- 2024: 84
- 2025: 74

## Questions

### Where is area code 859?

NANPA assigns area code 859 to Kentucky, United States.

### In which state does area code 859 sit?

Kentucky. 859 is one of 5 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 859 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 859 are Lexington, KY, Covington, KY and Berea, KY. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 859?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 859, Windstream Kentucky East, INC. - Lexington holds the most prefixes, 77 prefixes or 14%.

### Which time zone does 859 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 859 as Eastern (E).

### What year did 859 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2000-04-01, so 859 has been in use since 2000.

### Does area code 859 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 859.

### Which area codes are nearest to 859?

The area codes closest to 859, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 502 (about 55 miles), 606 (about 65 miles), 283 (about 76 miles), 513 (about 76 miles) and 326 (about 115 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 859 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 561 prefixes in service in 859, spread over 42 rate centers and 38 holders.

### Are there complaints about 859 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 3,177 complaints for 2,079 numbers in 859. 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).