501 area code — Little Rock, AR geographic

Data: NANPA public reports, current as of July 28, 2026.

Phone numbers beginning 501 are registered to the Little Rock area of Arkansas (Central time zone). The code entered service on January 1, 1947. Keep in mind the code identifies where the number was registered; the person calling may be elsewhere.

The code currently holds 625 working prefixes, held by 47 different carriers. Of these, 472 are pooled prefixes shared by multiple carriers. Numbers are anchored to 61 rate centers — billing localities that fix where each prefix belongs.

To check where a specific 501 number was issued, look up its six-digit prefix; to check who is actually calling, ignore the display and verify through an official callback number — caller ID is assertable and routinely spoofed.

As demand grew it in turn gave rise to 870 (1997), 479 (2002).

The current NANPA exhaust forecast is 3Q 2044.

Local calls inside 501 are dialed 10D; 1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion..

Among Arkansas codes, 501 stands out as the oldest area code in Arkansas, in service since 1947.

Largest localities in 501

FAQ

Is 501 a toll-free number?

No. 501 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.

Will 501 run out of numbers?

NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 3Q 2044 — decades of capacity remain.

Why am I getting spam calls from 501 numbers?

Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 501 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.