681 area code — Charleston, WV geographic
- State
- West Virginia
- Major area
- Charleston
- Time zone
- Eastern
- In service since
- 2009-03-28
- Split from
- 304
- Overlay complex
- 304 / 681
- Active prefixes
- 487
- Rate centers
- 213
- Carriers
- 50
- Projected exhaust
- 4Q 2033
Area code 681 is a geographic code serving Charleston, West Virginia in the Eastern time zone. It has been in service since March 28, 2009. Together with 304 it forms the 304/681 overlay. Because of number portability and VoIP, the area code tells you where the number was issued, not where the caller is right now.
NANPA lists 487 active NXX prefixes in 681, assigned to 50 carriers. 483 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 213 rate centers (billing localities).
Its parent code is 304, which it left in 2009.
Official projections put exhaust for the 304/681 complex at 4Q 2033.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Practical takeaway: the 681 label narrows geography to West Virginia, the prefix narrows it to a locality, and neither authenticates a caller. Verification means calling back through a number you found yourself.
Largest localities in 681
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston Zone 1 | 37 | 304 |
| Huntington Zone 1 | 33 | 304 |
| Parkersburg Zone 1 | 25 | 304 |
| Logan | 18 | 304 |
| Martinsburg | 12 | 304 |
| Beckley | 11 | 304 |
| Bluefield | 11 | 304 |
| Fairmont | 11 | 304 |
| Morgantown | 10 | 304 |
| Kingwood | 7 | 304 |
FAQ
Why am I getting spam calls from 681 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 681 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 681 number from?
681 is assigned to Charleston and surrounding areas of West Virginia in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 681 a toll-free number?
No. 681 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.