The area code 706 is located in Athens, Georgia.
Area code 706 serves Athens, Georgia, and a wide sweep of northern and east-central Georgia outside the Atlanta metro. Centered in Athens—home to the University of Georgia—this area code connects college life, music, and tech with nearby towns and rural communities. It works alongside the overlay area code 762, so phone numbers in this region may use either 706 or 762, and ten-digit dialing is required. This coverage makes 706 a key hub for both everyday calls and business connections across the region.
Major cities and communities covered by 706/762 include:
Established in 1992 as a split from 404, 706 originally took much of Georgia outside Atlanta; after area code 770 launched in 1995 for the suburbs, 706 focused on communities beyond the metro core. The overlay 762 was added in 2010 to meet growing demand for new phone numbers, which is why you see both codes today in the same places. Athens brings cultural and educational weight to the area, while Augusta hosts one of golf’s most famous venues, and Columbus anchors the west with a strong military and manufacturing presence. If you’re looking up a 706 phone number, expect it to trace back to North Georgia or east-central Georgia—often to Athens, Augusta, or Columbus.
706 established: 1992; overlay 762 added: 2010. — North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA)
Quick tip: Because of the overlay, new lines in Athens and nearby cities may receive either 706 or 762, but both codes serve the same geographic area.