501 Area CodeLittle Rock, AR
Area code 501 covers Little Rock and nearby communities in Arkansas, in the Central Time (CT) zone, home to about 734,000 people across 106 cities. It overlays 479, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 501?
Area code 501 serves part of Little Rock, AR and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (479) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 501 Area Code
What is the 501 area code?
The 501 area code serves Little Rock, Arkansas, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 501 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 501 created?
The 501 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Little Rock once the existing area code 479 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 501 Area Code
The 501 area code serves Little Rock and surrounding areas in Arkansas. It operates within the Central Time (CT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 479. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Little Rock
- Conway
- North Little Rock
- Benton
- Hot Springs
- Sherwood
Got a call from a 501 number? It came from Little Rock, AR. Since 501 overlays with 479, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 501, Little Rock holds about 28% of the population; the rest is split across 105 smaller cities.
Little Rock Area Codes Overview
Little Rock is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 501 area code operates alongside 479. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 501 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 501 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | AR | 204,774 | 1% | 100% |
| Conway | AR | 70,711 | 1% | 100% |
| North Little Rock | AR | 64,498 | 1% | 100% |
| Benton | AR | 38,088 | 0% | 100% |
| Hot Springs | AR | 37,971 | 0% | 100% |
| Sherwood | AR | 33,281 | 0% | 100% |
| Jacksonville | AR | 29,129 | 0% | 100% |
| Cabot | AR | 27,575 | 0% | 100% |
| Searcy | AR | 23,997 | 0% | 100% |
| Bryant | AR | 22,271 | 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 501 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 667 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 501 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 80% robocalls
- ↑ 63% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other44%295
- Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans)30%197
- Medical & prescriptions9%58
* 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 501?
60% assigned to a telco
- 69% Landline
- 31% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (501)200- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (501)201- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (501)202- | Landline | Southwestern Bell |
| (501)203- | Landline | At&T |
| (501)204- | Wireless | Sprint Spectrum |
| (501)205- | Landline | Level 3 Communications |
| (501)206- | Landline | Southwestern Bell |
| (501)207- | Landline | Southwestern Bell |
| (501)208- | Landline | Southwestern Bell |
| (501)209- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 501 Area Code
Who called me from a 501 number?
A 501 number is assigned to Little Rock, Arkansas, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 501 code to look nearby, so a 501 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 667 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 501 code (80% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 501 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 501 is a normal, officially assigned code for Little Rock, Arkansas. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 501 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 667 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 501 code (80% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 501 area code?
Repeated calls from different 501 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 501 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 667 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 501 code (80% 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 501 number?
If you aren't expecting a 501 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 501 area code?
Block a single 501 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 501 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 501?
Area code 501 covers Little Rock and the surrounding area in Arkansas, spanning 106 cities with about 733,518 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 479.
Is 501 a real area code?
Yes. 501 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Little Rock, Arkansas. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 501 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 501 area code in?
The 501 area code is in the Central Time (CT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 501 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 501 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 501 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 501 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.