479 Area CodeFort Smith, AR
Area code 479 covers Fort Smith and nearby communities in Arkansas, in the Central Time (CT) zone, home to about 750,000 people across 99 cities. It overlays 501, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Fort Smith
- State
- Arkansas (AR)
- Timezone
- Central Time (CT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 501
Where is area code 479?
Area code 479 serves part of Fort Smith, AR and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (501) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 479 Area Code
What is the 479 area code?
The 479 area code serves Fort Smith, Arkansas, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 479 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 479 created?
The 479 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Fort Smith once the existing area code 501 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 479 Area Code
The 479 area code serves Fort Smith and surrounding areas in Arkansas. It operates within the Central Time (CT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 501. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Fayetteville
- Fort Smith
- Springdale
- Rogers
- Bentonville
- Bella Vista
Got a call from a 479 number? It came from Fort Smith, AR. Since 479 overlays with 501, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 479, Fort Smith holds about 14% of the population; the rest is split across 98 smaller cities.
Fort Smith Area Codes Overview
Fort Smith is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 479 area code operates alongside 501. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 479 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 479 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | AR | 103,134 | 1% | 100% |
| Fort Smith | AR | 90,507 | 1% | 100% |
| Springdale | AR | 89,368 | 0% | 100% |
| Rogers | AR | 75,639 | 0% | 100% |
| Bentonville | AR | 61,791 | 0% | 100% |
| Bella Vista | AR | 33,274 | 1% | 100% |
| Russellville | AR | 29,442 | 0% | 100% |
| Centerton | AR | 25,745 | 0% | 100% |
| Van Buren | AR | 24,396 | 0% | 100% |
| Siloam Springs | AR | 20,075 | 0% | 100% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 479 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 309 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 479 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 73% robocalls
- ↑ 1% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other39%119
- Dropped call or no message16%48
- Medical & prescriptions13%41
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 479?
49% assigned to a telco
- 68% Landline
- 32% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (479)200- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (479)201- | Landline | Southwestern Bell |
| (479)202- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (479)203- | Landline | Southwestern Bell Telephone |
| (479)204- | Landline | Southwestern Bell |
| (479)205- | Landline | Southwestern Bell Telephone |
| (479)206- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (479)207- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (479)208- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (479)209- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 479 Area Code
Who called me from a 479 number?
A 479 number is assigned to Fort Smith, Arkansas, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 479 code to look nearby, so a 479 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 309 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 479 code (73% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 479 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 479 is a normal, officially assigned code for Fort Smith, Arkansas. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 479 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 309 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 479 code (73% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 479 area code?
Repeated calls from different 479 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 479 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 309 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 479 code (73% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 479 number?
If you aren't expecting a 479 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 479 area code?
Block a single 479 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 479 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 479?
Area code 479 covers Fort Smith and the surrounding area in Arkansas, spanning 99 cities with about 749,538 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 501.
Is 479 a real area code?
Yes. 479 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Fort Smith, Arkansas. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 479 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 479 area code in?
The 479 area code is in the Central Time (CT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 479 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 479 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 479 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 479 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.