Area code 601: where it is and who calls from it
Area code 601 is in Mississippi.
Mississippi (Jackson, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Natchez, Vicksburg, and most of central Mississippi)
| Where | Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Central Time ยท local time |
| In service since | 1947 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 769 |
| Prefixes assigned | 783 of 792 possible (99%) |
Overlay: 601 covers the same area as 769. Overlay areas use 10-digit dialing, so a seven-digit number alone won't connect, and neighbors can have different area codes.
Where 601 numbers started
Every prefix is assigned to a rate center, the local calling area it was set up in. These are the biggest in 601, with how many prefixes each has.
Plus 46 smaller rate centers.
Who holds 601 numbers
- Mobile carrier 31%
- Local phone company 33%
- Internet / business phone carrier 20%
- Paging service 1%
- Phone company 16%
| Carrier | Type | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T (local phone) | Local phone company | 241 | 31% |
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile carrier | 80 | 10% |
| Telepak Networks | Phone company | 75 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile carrier | 74 | 9% |
| Level 3 (Lumen) | Internet / business phone carrier | 67 | 9% |
| Cellular South | Mobile carrier | 39 | 5% |
| Bandwidth | Internet / business phone carrier | 31 | 4% |
| Windstream (PAETEC) | Internet / business phone carrier | 28 | 4% |
| MetroPCS (T-Mobile) | Mobile carrier | 21 | 3% |
| T-Mobile (including Sprint) | Mobile carrier | 17 | 2% |
Most prefixes are pooled: the 10,000 numbers in each are handed out in blocks of 1,000 to different carriers, and people can also take their numbers to another carrier. So the carrier shown is where the prefix started, not a guarantee about any one number.
States served: Mississippi.
Other area codes in Mississippi
Got a call from 601?
An area code tells you where a number was first assigned, not where the caller is. People keep their numbers when they move, and scammers can fake any number. If you weren't expecting the call, let it go to voicemail.
If the call shows a 601 number that matches the first six digits of your own, that's often neighbor spoofing. Use the box above to check the full number.
Area code facts from the NANPA area code database (updated 10/06/2026); prefixes and carriers from NANPA's central office code records (updated 2026-10-10). Place description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.