---
title: "Area code 901: Tennessee, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/901.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/901"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 901 serves Tennessee, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Tennessee."
---

# Area code 901: Tennessee, United States

Area code 901 serves Tennessee, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Tennessee.

NANPA lists 612 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 901, held by 47 holders across 14 rate centers.
The largest rate center is MEMPHIS, with 499 prefixes (82%).
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 168 (27%). 63% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 3,701 complaints on file for 3,157 numbers in 901, 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: 612
- Pooled prefixes: 388 (63%)
- Rate centers: 14
- Companies holding prefixes: 47
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-23 to 2026-04-08 (254 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 73

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MEMPHIS | 499 | 82% |
| COLLIERVL | 29 | 5% |
| ARLINGTON | 21 | 3% |
| SOMERVILLE | 13 | 2% |
| COVINGTON | 10 | 2% |
| MOSCOW | 9 | 1% |
| LAGRANGE | 8 | 1% |
| MILLINGTON | 7 | 1% |
| 6 other rate centers | 16 | 3% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Central Bell Tel | 168 | 27% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 90 | 15% |
| Powertel Memphis Licenses | 64 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | 36 | 6% |
| Mcimetro Access Transmission Services | 35 | 6% |
| Onvoy | 33 | 5% |
| 41 other carriers | 186 | 30% |

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 901 went into service.
- 2001-02-12: Area code 731 went into service and names 901 as its parent.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 901, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 731 (about 78 miles), 327 (about 94 miles), 662 (about 94 miles), 870 (about 121 miles) and 501 (about 137 miles).

## ZIP codes

73 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Memphis, TN (61 ZIP codes), Millington, TN (4 ZIP codes) and Arlington, TN (1 ZIP code). 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

3,701 complaints for 3,157 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 130
- 2024: 752
- 2025: 349

## Questions

### Where is area code 901?

NANPA assigns area code 901 to Tennessee, United States.

### In which state does area code 901 sit?

Tennessee. 901 is one of 8 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 901 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 901 are Memphis, TN, Millington, TN and Arlington, TN. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 901?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 901, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 168 prefixes or 27%.

### Which time zone does 901 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 901 as Central (C).

### What year did 901 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1947-01-01, so 901 has been in use since 1947.

### Does area code 901 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 901.

### Which area codes are nearest to 901?

The area codes closest to 901, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 731 (about 78 miles), 327 (about 94 miles), 662 (about 94 miles), 870 (about 121 miles) and 501 (about 137 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 901 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 612 prefixes in service in 901, spread over 14 rate centers and 47 holders.

### Are there complaints about 901 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 3,701 complaints for 3,157 numbers in 901. 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).