Fact Friday 1 - History of the 704 Area Code

704 is the area code for Charlotte, North Carolina, and about a dozen counties around it in the southern Piedmont. It's one of the original area codes from 1947, and locals say it "seven-oh-four." Newer numbers in the same area can start with 980, which covers the same ground as 704.

Where is the 704 area code?

The 704 covers Charlotte and Mecklenburg County plus all or most of Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties, along with small slivers of Alexander, Catawba and Rutherford. The whole area is in the Eastern time zone.

Cities and towns in the 704

Besides Charlotte, the 704 includes:

• Concord, Kannapolis and Harrisburg (Cabarrus County)
• Gastonia, Belmont and Mount Holly (Gaston County)
• Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville (Mecklenburg County)
• Mooresville and Statesville (Iredell County)
• Monroe, Indian Trail, Stallings and Waxhaw (Union County)
• Salisbury and China Grove (Rowan County)
• Shelby, Lincolnton, Albemarle and Wadesboro

704 and 980

As the Charlotte region grew, it started running low on 704 numbers. Instead of splitting the area again, 980 was added as an overlay, the first one in North Carolina. Both codes cover the same territory, so next-door neighbors can have different area codes. It's also why local calls around Charlotte have needed all 10 digits since 2001.

A short history of the 704

1947: When AT&T and the Bell System rolled out the first 86 area codes, North Carolina got one: 704. It covered the whole state, from the mountains to the Outer Banks. The 0 in the middle was the tell. In the original plan, a 0 as the middle digit meant the code covered an entire state, while a 1 meant the state was split between two or more codes.

1954: The eastern two-thirds of the state moved to a new area code, 919, and the 704 kept the western third.

1998: The mountains and foothills split off into 828, and the 704 became the Charlotte region's code.

2000s: 980 arrived as an overlay to keep up with the region's growth.

Why area codes look the way they do

The first area codes were built for rotary phones, where some digits took longer to dial than others. A 1 was quick and a 0 was the slowest, so the busiest places got the quickest codes: New York got 212, Los Angeles 213, Chicago 312, Philadelphia 215 and Detroit 313. Planners also tried to avoid giving neighboring areas similar codes, to cut down on misdialed calls. North Carolina, far less populated in 1947, got 704. Today the Charlotte region is one of the fastest-growing in the country.

Why the 704 means more than a phone number

Around Charlotte, you'll see 704 on business names, bumper stickers and plenty of shirts. It's how people here say where they're from. It's also where we got our name: 704 Shop has made hometown apparel for the Queen City since 2013, starting with our 704 Brand tees and hats. Rep the 704 with our 704 Logo Tee or the Seven Ohh Four Tee. Read more about why we're called 704 Shop.

704 area code FAQ

What city is area code 704?

Charlotte, North Carolina. The 704 also covers nearby cities including Concord, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Mooresville, Monroe, Salisbury and Statesville.

What state is the 704 area code in?

North Carolina. It's in the southern Piedmont, along the South Carolina line.

Are 704 and 980 the same area?

Yes. 980 is an overlay that covers the same territory as 704, so a Charlotte-area number can start with either one.

How old is the 704 area code?

It dates to 1947, when it was one of the original area codes and covered all of North Carolina.

What time zone is the 704 area code in?

Eastern Time.

How do you say 704?

Locals say "seven-oh-four."

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