Cities in area code 686
686 numbers are anchored to 11 rate centers across Virginia. Each row shows how many active prefixes the locality holds — a direct measure of its numbering footprint.
Ranked by active prefixes, the code's territory runs through Richmond, Cartersville, Ashland, Chester, Heathsville, Irvington, Waverly and Montross, and 2 smaller communities down to single-prefix localities.
Metropolitan coverage: 6 rate centers belong to FCC top-100 metro areas.
Overlap note: 11 localities are shared with other area codes, so a neighbor's number may differ in its first three digits.
Clock-wise the coverage is Eastern.
A caller's real location can differ: numbers port between carriers and follow their owners when they move. Use the prefix tables to see where a specific number block was issued.
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Metro area | All codes serving it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 11 | Richmond, VA | 686, 804 |
| Cartersville | 1 | Richmond, VA | 686, 804 |
| Ashland | 1 | Richmond, VA | 686, 804 |
| Chester | 1 | Richmond, VA | 686, 804 |
| Heathsville | 1 | — | 686, 804 |
| Irvington | 1 | — | 686, 804 |
| Waverly | 1 | Virginia Beach-Chesepeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 686, 804 |
| Montross | 1 | — | 686, 804 |
| Charles City | 1 | Richmond, VA | 686, 804 |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | — | 686, 804 |
| Tappahannock | 1 | — | 686, 804 |
FAQ
What is the biggest city in area code 686?
Richmond holds the most active prefixes (11), making it the code's largest numbering locality.
How many places does 686 cover?
11 rate centers in Virginia hold active 686 prefixes, from Richmond down to communities with a single prefix.
Does a 686 number guarantee the caller lives in one of these places?
No — the tables show where number blocks were issued. Porting and VoIP let people keep or acquire numbers anywhere.