Area code 706
Encyclopedia
In the NANP, area codes 706 and 762 cover parts of northern and west central Georgia
outside of metro Atlanta
. Until 1992 it was within area code 404
, which was retained by the metro area.
This area code is split into two disconnected sections. The small section is west-central Georgia, in the region around Columbus
. This is bordered by Area code 334
to the west in Alabama
, Area code 478
to the east, Area code 229
to the south, and metro Atlanta's 404, 678
, 770
, and future 470. It does not touch the landline
area of 404, only the cellphone area.
The major section of 706 wraps around from Rome
in northwest Georgia, east through the mountains past Dahlonega, meeting its narrowest point at Toccoa, then broadening south to Athens
and Augusta
. It touches Alabama's Area code 256
/938 and 334
on the far west, Tennessee
's Area code 423
on the northwest, North Carolina
's Area code 828
and Upstate South Carolina
's area code 864
to the north-northeast, and midlands
Area code 803
to the east, and middle Georgia's 478 and metro Atlanta as above.
In June 2005, the Georgia Public Service Commission
announced that 706 is nearly exhausted for new telephone exchange
prefixes, and would be overlaid by a new area code. On June 24, the NANPA
assigned area code 762 for this purpose, with 10-digit dialing to be allowed on September 3, and to be required on April 1 of 2007.
This is the third time that the GPSC has flip-flopped on its policy
for deciding how new area codes would be assigned. Metro Atlanta's suburb
s were split into 770, but then both 404 and 770 were overlaid with 678, and cellphones (originally 404 only) can now have any of those no matter where in the metro area. Southern Georgia was then split three ways instead of an overlay.
It is interesting to note that prior to 1990 area code 706 covered regions of Mexico.
, Burke
(part with Area code 478
), Chattooga
, Catoosa
, Chattahoochee
, Clarke
, Columbia
, Dade
, Dawson
, Elbert
, Fannin
, Franklin
, Gilmer
, Glascock
, Gordon
, Greene
, Habersham
, Hancock
, Harris
, Hart
, Heard
, Jackson
, Jasper
, Jefferson
(part with Area code 478
), Jenkins
, Lincoln
, Lumpkin
, Madison
, McDuffie
, Meriwether
, Morgan
, Murray
, Muscogee
, Oconee
, Oglethorpe
, Putnam
, Rabun
, Richmond
, Stephens
, Talbot
, Taliaferro
, Towns
, Troup
, Union
, Upson
(part with Area code 478
), Walker
, Warren
, White
, Whitfield
, and Wilkes
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
outside of metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta
The Atlanta metropolitan area or metro Atlanta, officially designated by the US Census Bureau as the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta Metropolitan Statistical Area, is the most populous metro area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States...
. Until 1992 it was within area code 404
Area code 404
Area code 404 covers Atlanta and its immediate neighbors, roughly within Interstate 285.Originally, it covered all of Georgia when the area code system was first created in the 1940s and implemented in 1951. On July 1, 1954, area code 912 was assigned to southern and middle Georgia...
, which was retained by the metro area.
This area code is split into two disconnected sections. The small section is west-central Georgia, in the region around Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
. This is bordered by Area code 334
Area code 334
Area code 334 is a NANPA area code in the state of Alabama. It was created on January 15, 1995 as a split from area code 205 The 334 area code was one of the first two area codes not to take the N1X or N0X form in the North American Numbering Plan, along with Washington area code 360, which began...
to the west in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Area code 478
Area code 478
Area code 478 is a telephone area code serving the state of Georgia, in the United States. It covers Macon and Middle Georgia . It was formerly part of Area code 912...
to the east, Area code 229
Area code 229
229 is the North American telephone area code for part of the U.S. state of Georgia. It covers Albany, Valdosta, Bainbridge, Americus, Fitzgerald, Cairo, Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton and southwestern Georgia. It was formerly part of Area code 912...
to the south, and metro Atlanta's 404, 678
Area code 678
678 is a North American Numbering Plan area code assigned to metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, its suburbs and exurbs. The area code was first assigned to customers signing up for new telephone service on January 15, 1998. In local shorthand, 678 is usually written in shorthand for informal...
, 770
Area code 770
Area code 770 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan , assigned to Metro Atlanta, Georgia's suburbs and exurbs. It was split from 404 in December 1995, just three years after the 706 split...
, and future 470. It does not touch the landline
Landline
A landline was originally an overland telegraph wire, as opposed to an undersea cable. Currently, landline refers to a telephone line which travels through a solid medium, either metal wire or optical fibre, as distinguished from a mobile cellular line, where transmission is via radio waves...
area of 404, only the cellphone area.
The major section of 706 wraps around from Rome
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
in northwest Georgia, east through the mountains past Dahlonega, meeting its narrowest point at Toccoa, then broadening south to Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
and Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. It touches Alabama's Area code 256
Area code 256
Area codes 256 and 938 are telephone numbering plan codes in the state of Alabama with 256 created on March 23, 1998, as a split from area code 205...
/938 and 334
Area code 334
Area code 334 is a NANPA area code in the state of Alabama. It was created on January 15, 1995 as a split from area code 205 The 334 area code was one of the first two area codes not to take the N1X or N0X form in the North American Numbering Plan, along with Washington area code 360, which began...
on the far west, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
's Area code 423
Area code 423
Area Code 423 is an area code in Tennessee that covers two separate areas of East Tennessee.Principal cities in the northern part of the area code region are Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport . The principal cities in the south are Chattanooga and Cleveland.-History:Area code 423 was created in...
on the northwest, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
's Area code 828
Area code 828
In the North American Numbering Plan, 828 is the telephone area code for the western mountain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina, including Asheville. The city of Hickory is often grouped with the Charlotte metropolitan area, but uses 828 rather than Charlotte's 704/980 area code overlay...
and Upstate South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
's area code 864
Area code 864
Area code 864 is an area code in the U.S. state of South Carolina that covers Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and the other parts of upstate South Carolina. It was split from area code 803 on December 3, 1995. -External links:*...
to the north-northeast, and midlands
Midlands, South Carolina
The Midlands roughly refers to an area in the middle of South Carolina. Columbia is the largest city in the region and location of the state government...
Area code 803
Area code 803
Area code 803 is a South Carolina area code. Located in the central part of the state, it is anchored by metropolitan Columbia, the state capital. It also includes the cities of Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Sumter, Orangeburg, and Aiken. It is one of the original 86 North American Numbering Plan areas...
to the east, and middle Georgia's 478 and metro Atlanta as above.
In June 2005, the Georgia Public Service Commission
Georgia Public Service Commission
The Georgia Public Service Commission is a public utilities commission, a quasi-judicial tribunal, which regulates telecommunications, transportation, electric and natural gas services in the U.S. state of Georgia....
announced that 706 is nearly exhausted for new telephone exchange
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
prefixes, and would be overlaid by a new area code. On June 24, the NANPA
Nanpa
, also transliterated as nampa, in Japanese culture is a type of flirting and seduction popular among teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties. When Japanese women pursue men in a fashion similar to nanpa, it is called .-Etymology:...
assigned area code 762 for this purpose, with 10-digit dialing to be allowed on September 3, and to be required on April 1 of 2007.
This is the third time that the GPSC has flip-flopped on its policy
Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
for deciding how new area codes would be assigned. Metro Atlanta's suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s were split into 770, but then both 404 and 770 were overlaid with 678, and cellphones (originally 404 only) can now have any of those no matter where in the metro area. Southern Georgia was then split three ways instead of an overlay.
It is interesting to note that prior to 1990 area code 706 covered regions of Mexico.
Counties served
BanksBanks County, Georgia
Banks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population is 18,395. The county seat is Homer.-History:*The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation to create Banks County on February 1, 1859, from Franklin and Habersham Counties.*The county is named for Richard...
, Burke
Burke County, Georgia
Burke County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 22,243. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 22,754...
(part with Area code 478
Area code 478
Area code 478 is a telephone area code serving the state of Georgia, in the United States. It covers Macon and Middle Georgia . It was formerly part of Area code 912...
), Chattooga
Chattooga County, Georgia
Chattooga County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 28, 1838. As of 2000, the population was 25,470. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 26,797. The county seat is Summerville.-Geography:...
, Catoosa
Catoosa County, Georgia
Catoosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 5, 1853. As of 2000, the population was 53,282. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 62,241...
, Chattahoochee
Chattahoochee County, Georgia
Chattahoochee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 13, 1854. The 2000 Census reported a population of 14,882. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 14,402. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Clarke
Clarke County, Georgia
Clarke County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 101,489. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 114,063...
, Columbia
Columbia County, Georgia
Columbia County is a county located in the US state of Georgia along the Savannah River. As of 2010 the population was 124,054 a growth of 39% from the 2000 census figure of 89,288. The de jure county seat is Appling. Appling is an unincorporated area, making Columbia one of only three counties...
, Dade
Dade County, Georgia
Dade County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population is 15,154. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,098...
, Dawson
Dawson County, Georgia
Dawson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1857 from Gilmer and Lumpkin counties. As of 2000, the population is 15,999. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,484...
, Elbert
Elbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
, Fannin
Fannin County, Georgia
Fannin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on January 21, 1854. As of 2000, the population was 19,798. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 22,580...
, Franklin
Franklin County, Georgia
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It became Georgia's ninth county, incorporating on February 25, 1784, and was named in honor of patriot Benjamin Franklin...
, Gilmer
Gilmer County, Georgia
Gilmer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 3, 1832 and was named for George Rockingham Gilmer. As of 2000, the population was 23,456. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,389...
, Glascock
Glascock County, Georgia
Glascock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 19, 1857. As of 2000, the population is 2,556. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 2,771. The county seat is Gibson.-History:...
, Gordon
Gordon County, Georgia
Gordon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 44,104. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 52,044. The county seat is Calhoun.- History :...
, Greene
Greene County, Georgia
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 3, 1786. As of 2000, the population is 14,406. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 15,662. The county seat is Greensboro...
, Habersham
Habersham County, Georgia
Habersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
, Hancock
Hancock County, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,237 households, and 2,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,287 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
, Harris
Harris County, Georgia
Harris County is located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 14, 1827. As of 2000, the population was 23,695. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 29,073. The county seat is Hamilton...
, Hart
Hart County, Georgia
Hart County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created December 7, 1853. As of 2000, the population was 22,997. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 24,240. The county seat is Hartwell....
, Heard
Heard County, Georgia
Heard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 22, 1830. As of 2000, the population was 11,012. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 11,387...
, Jackson
Jackson County, Georgia
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population in 2000 was 41,589. Explosive growth is evident with a population of 63,544 in the 2009 Census estimates. The county seat is Jefferson.-History:...
, Jasper
Jasper County, Georgia
Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660...
, Jefferson
Jefferson County, Georgia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 20, 1796. As of 2000, the population was 17,266. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,454...
(part with Area code 478
Area code 478
Area code 478 is a telephone area code serving the state of Georgia, in the United States. It covers Macon and Middle Georgia . It was formerly part of Area code 912...
), Jenkins
Jenkins County, Georgia
Jenkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 17, 1905. As of 2000, the population was 8,575. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 8,595. The county seat is Millen.-Geography:...
, Lincoln
Lincoln County, Georgia
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia, with the Savannah River forming its northeastern border. Located above the fall line, it is part of the Central Savannah River Area and a member of the CSRA Regional Development Center. The county was created on February 20, 1796. ...
, Lumpkin
Lumpkin County, Georgia
Lumpkin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,966. Its county seat is Dahlonega.- History :...
, Madison
Madison County, Georgia
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 5, 1811. As of 2000, the population was 25,730. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 28,012. The county seat is Danielsville....
, McDuffie
McDuffie County, Georgia
McDuffie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on October 18, 1870. As of 2000, the population was 21,231. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,551. The county seat is Thomson....
, Meriwether
Meriwether County, Georgia
Meriwether County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 14, 1827. As of 2000, the population was 22,534. The 2009 Census Estimate reflects a population of 22,783...
, Morgan
Morgan County, Georgia
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,457. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,492. The county seat is Madison, Georgia.-Geography:...
, Murray
Murray County, Georgia
Murray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 36,506. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 40,664. The county seat is Chatsworth.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Muscogee
Muscogee County, Georgia
Muscogee County is a county located on the central western border of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 186,291. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 190,414...
, Oconee
Oconee County, Georgia
Oconee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 25, 1875. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,225. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 31,367...
, Oglethorpe
Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Oglethorpe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the largest county in Northeast Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 12,635. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 13,963...
, Putnam
Putnam County, Georgia
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 18,812. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 21,251...
, Rabun
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
, Richmond
Richmond County, Georgia
Richmond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2010, the population was 200,549. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 199,486....
, Stephens
Stephens County, Georgia
Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 26,175. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 25,268. The county seat is Toccoa.-History:...
, Talbot
Talbot County, Georgia
Talbot County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census showed a population of 6,498. The 2009 Census Estimate showed a population of 6,355. The county seat is Talbotton.-History:...
, Taliaferro
Taliaferro County, Georgia
Taliaferro County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 2,077, making it the least populous county east of the Mississippi River. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 1,884. The county seat is Crawfordville.The spelling of the...
, Towns
Towns County, Georgia
Towns County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on March 6, 1856. As of the 2000 census, the population was 9,319. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 10,894. Its county seat is Hiawassee.-History:...
, Troup
Troup County, Georgia
Troup County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 67,044. The county seat is LaGrange.-History:...
, Union
Union County, Georgia
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 17,289. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,968. The county seat is Blairsville.Its Sole commissioner is Lamar Paris, who has served since 2001....
, Upson
Upson County, Georgia
Upson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area . It was created on December 15, 1824. As of 2000, the population was 27,597. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 27,562...
(part with Area code 478
Area code 478
Area code 478 is a telephone area code serving the state of Georgia, in the United States. It covers Macon and Middle Georgia . It was formerly part of Area code 912...
), Walker
Walker County, Georgia
Walker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 18, 1833 from land formerly belonging to the Cherokee Indian Nation. As of 2000, the population was 61,053. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 64,554...
, Warren
Warren County, Georgia
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 19, 1793. As of 2000, the population was 6,336. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 5,908...
, White
White County, Georgia
White County is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 22, 1857, from part of Habersham County. The county was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an...
, Whitfield
Whitfield County, Georgia
Whitfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 30, 1851. The 2010 Census shows a population of 102,599. The county seat is Dalton.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Civil War:...
, and Wilkes
Wilkes County, Georgia
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 10,687. The 2007 Census estimate shows a population of 10,262. The county seat is the city of Washington. Referred to as "Washington-Wilkes", the county seat and county are commonly treated as a...