Area code
979
979 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to Texas, which has 29 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 979
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 979 at a glance
NANPA lists 411 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 979, held by 49 holders across 55 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2000-02-19 |
| Time zone | Central (C) |
| Prefixes in use | 411 |
| Pooled prefixes | 316 (77%) |
| Rate centers | 55 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 49 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-02-08 to 2026-06-05 (192 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 50 |
Rate centers in area code 979
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BRYAN | 86 | 21% |
| ANGLETON | 28 | 7% |
| FREEPORT | 20 | 5% |
| BRENHAM | 19 | 5% |
| CLTLKJCKSN | 19 | 5% |
| BAY CITY | 17 | 4% |
| EL CAMPO | 14 | 3% |
| LA GRANGE | 11 | 3% |
| 47 other rate centers | 197 | 48% |
Who holds the prefixes in 979
Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 58 (14%). 77% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Bell | 58 | 14% |
| Frontier Comm Of Texas | 54 | 13% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 47 | 11% |
| Level 3 Communications | 30 | 7% |
| Aerial Communications | 29 | 7% |
| Texas Communications | 24 | 6% |
| 43 other carriers | 169 | 41% |
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 979
- 1982-11-01 Area code 409, named as the parent of 979 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2000-02-19 Area code 979 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 979
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
ZIP codes in area code 979
50 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Bryan, TX | 7 |
| Angleton, TX | 2 |
| Bay City, TX | 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 979 numbers
1,810 FCC complaints are on file for 1,310 numbers in 979, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 167 |
| 2024 | 110 |
| 2025 | 63 |
Other area codes in Texas
Texas is one state with 29 area codes in the NANPA table. 979 is one of them.
Next to 979 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 979 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 979 was first assigned in Texas. 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 Texas next to a 979 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 979
Where is area code 979?
NANPA assigns area code 979 to Texas, United States.
In which state does area code 979 sit?
Texas. 979 is one of 29 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 979 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 979 are Bryan, TX, Angleton, TX and Bay City, TX. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 979?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 979, Southwestern Bell holds the most prefixes, 58 prefixes or 14%.
Which time zone does 979 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 979 as Central (C).
What year did 979 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2000-02-19, so 979 has been in use since 2000.
Does area code 979 have an overlay?
The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 979.
Which area codes are nearest to 979?
The area codes closest to 979, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 713 (about 52 miles), 281 (about 53 miles), 346 (about 53 miles), 832 (about 53 miles) and 512 (about 93 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 979 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 411 prefixes in service in 979, spread over 55 rate centers and 49 holders.
Are there complaints about 979 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 1,810 complaints for 1,310 numbers in 979. 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.