Area code
970
970 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Colorado, which has 6 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 970
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.
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Area code 970 at a glance
NANPA lists 771 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 970, held by 58 holders across 120 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 1995-04-02 |
| Time zone | Mountain (M) |
| Assigned overlays | 748 (2025-07-07) |
| Prefixes in use | 771 |
| Pooled prefixes | 522 (68%) |
| Rate centers | 120 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 58 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-16 to 2026-06-01 (369 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 125 |
Rate centers in area code 970
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FT COLLINS | 95 | 12% |
| GREELEY | 62 | 8% |
| GRAND JCT | 57 | 7% |
| LOVELAND | 35 | 5% |
| DURANGO | 29 | 4% |
| VAIL | 24 | 3% |
| GLENWD SPG | 21 | 3% |
| MONTROSE | 19 | 2% |
| 112 other rate centers | 429 | 56% |
Who holds the prefixes in 970
Qwest holds the most prefixes, 189 (25%). 68% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Qwest | 189 | 25% |
| Onvoy | 87 | 11% |
| Verizon Wireless | 76 | 10% |
| T-Mobile USA | 70 | 9% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 54 | 7% |
| Level 3 Communications | 47 | 6% |
| 52 other carriers | 248 | 32% |
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 970
- 1947-01-01 Area code 303, named as the parent of 970 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1995-04-02 Area code 970 went into service.
- 2025-07-07 Area code 748 went into service as an overlay in the same area as 970.
Area codes nearest to 970
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
- 748
ZIP codes in area code 970
125 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Fort Collins, CO | 9 |
| Greeley, CO | 6 |
| Durango, CO | 3 |
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 970 numbers
5,146 FCC complaints are on file for 3,997 numbers in 970, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 256 |
| 2024 | 191 |
| 2025 | 260 |
Other area codes in Colorado
Colorado is one state with 6 area codes in the NANPA table. 970 is one of them.
Next to 970 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 970 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 970 was first assigned in Colorado. 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 Colorado next to a 970 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 970
Where is area code 970?
NANPA assigns area code 970 to Colorado, United States.
In which state does area code 970 sit?
Colorado. 970 is one of 6 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 970 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 970 are Fort Collins, CO, Greeley, CO and Durango, CO. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 970?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 970, Qwest holds the most prefixes, 189 prefixes or 25%.
Which time zone does 970 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 970 as Mountain (M).
What year did 970 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1995-04-02, so 970 has been in use since 1995.
Does area code 970 have an overlay?
Yes. 748 (in service 2025-07-07) shares the same area with 970, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 970?
The area codes closest to 970, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 983 (about 60 miles), 303 (about 61 miles), 720 (about 61 miles), 719 (about 127 miles) and 307 (about 227 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 970 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 771 prefixes in service in 970, spread over 120 rate centers and 58 holders.
Are there complaints about 970 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 5,146 complaints for 3,997 numbers in 970. 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.