Area codes 304 and 681, Telephone prefix in West Virginia, United States
The telephone prefixes 304 and 681 apply throughout West Virginia and connect every community from the northern panhandle to the southern river valleys. Both numbers cover the same geographic area, with all calls within the state using either prefix depending on when the line was assigned.
The prefix 304 was among the first numbers established in October 1947 when the North American telephone network was divided into regional zones. In March 2009, the prefix 681 was introduced to meet the growing demand for new telephone lines across the state.
West Virginia residents maintain strong connections to their area codes, which represent distinct regional identities across the mountainous state's communities.
Anyone making a call within West Virginia must dial ten digits, including the area code before the local number. This rule applies to all calls within the state, regardless of whether the number begins with 304 or 681.
West Virginia was the first area previously served by a single code to introduce a statewide overlay system, allowing both numbers to operate throughout the entire territory. This solution made it possible to add new lines without dividing the state into separate geographic zones.
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