Where Is Area Code 540?
Area code 540 is a geographic code for much of western Virginia and parts of central and northern Virginia. Blacksburg in Montgomery County is the primary city associated with the code. The region is part of the South Atlantic area under the U.S. Census geographic classification.
Major cities include Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Fredericksburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Salem, Radford, Lexington, and Covington. The code also covers communities in Montgomery, Roanoke, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren, Frederick, Augusta, Botetourt, Culpeper, and Fauquier counties.
The 540 region includes parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, the New River Valley, and the Roanoke Valley. Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and James Madison University in Harrisonburg are major institutions in the area. Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests also lie within the broader region.
Cities and Communities in the 540 Area Code
- Blacksburg, Montgomery County
- Christiansburg, Montgomery County
- Roanoke
- Salem
- Vinton, Roanoke County
- Radford
- Harrisonburg
- Staunton
- Waynesboro
- Winchester
- Front Royal, Warren County
- Strasburg, Shenandoah County
- Woodstock, Shenandoah County
- New Market, Shenandoah County
- Luray, Page County
- Berryville, Clarke County
- Lexington
- Buena Vista
- Covington
- Fredericksburg
- Culpeper, Culpeper County
- Warrenton, Fauquier County
- Orange, Orange County
- Pulaski, Pulaski County
- Rocky Mount, Franklin County
- Bedford, Bedford County
- Bridgewater, Rockingham County
- Dayton, Rockingham County
- Broadway, Rockingham County
- Buchanan, Botetourt County
History of Area Code 540
Area code 540 entered service on July 15, 1995, after a split from area code 703. The split gave western and central Virginia a separate numbering area while area code 703 continued to serve Northern Virginia.
Southwestern Virginia received area code 276 in 2001 through a split from area code 540. Area code 826 was added as an overlay to the 540 region in 2022. The overlay added numbering capacity without replacing existing 540 numbers, so both codes can serve the same geographic area.
Key Facts About Area Code 540
- Area code 540 is a geographic area code assigned to Virginia.
- Blacksburg is the primary city associated with area code 540.
- Area code 540 is in the South Atlantic region under the U.S. Census geographic classification.
- Telephone numbers in area code 540 use Eastern Time.
- Area code 540 entered service on July 15, 1995, after splitting from area code 703.
- Area code 276 split from area code 540 in 2001.
- Area code 826 became an overlay for area code 540 in 2022.
- No single official Census population total exists for area code 540 because telephone area code boundaries do not match Census boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What state is area code 540 in?
Area code 540 is in Virginia.
What major cities use area code 540?
Major cities with 540 numbers include Blacksburg, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Winchester, Fredericksburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Salem, Radford, Lexington, and Covington.
What time zone is area code 540 in?
Area code 540 uses Eastern Time.
Is area code 540 a toll-free number?
No. Area code 540 is a geographic area code, not a toll-free code.