Area Code 304 Location

Area code 304 is the original telephone area code for the entire state of West Virginia, including the capital city of Charleston. Charleston sits on the Kanawha River in the Appalachian Mountains and anchors state government and business in the 304 service area. The code was established in 1947 as part of the North American Numbering Plan, making it one of the nation’s first area codes. To meet growing demand, West Virginia added the 681 overlay statewide, so 304 and 681 now cover the same area.

From Charleston to college towns and mountain gateways, area code 304 reaches every corner of WV. Major cities and landmarks covered include:

• Charleston and the West Virginia State Capitol
• Huntington and Marshall University
• Morgantown and West Virginia University
• Wheeling and Oglebay Park
• Parkersburg and the Ohio River valley
• Martinsburg and the Eastern Panhandle
• Beckley and the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
• Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
• The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs
• Seneca Rocks and the Monongahela National Forest

This wide coverage makes 304 a familiar caller ID across urban centers, small towns, and rural hollows.

What to know about phone numbers: both 304 and 681 serve the statewide overlay, and ten-digit dialing is standard for local calls. 304 never split; it stayed a single, statewide code for decades until the overlay, a rarity among U.S. states. Many long-time residents still prize a 304 number for its history and recognition, while new lines may be assigned 681 depending on availability. "Statistic: 304 was created in 1947 and serves all of West Virginia alongside 681." — North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA)