You know how phone numbers start with three digits before the main seven? Those first three digits are the area code, and they tell you the general geographic location of the phone number.
Area code 571 is one of those codes, and it’s located in Virginia.
This article offers a complete explanation of what the 571 area code is, where it’s located, and what you need to know about it.
Where is the 571 area code?
The 571 area code is located in northeastern Virginia, specifically in the region closest to Washington, D.C.
If you’re trying to picture the area it covers, think of the counties and cities closest to the nation’s capital. The 571 area code includes places like:
- Arlington
- Alexandria
- Centreville
- Dale City
- Reston
It’s also important to know that 571 is what’s known as an “overlay” area code for the 703 area code. That means that both 571 and 703 serve the same geographic area.
Why the overlay? As the population grew in northern Virginia, the original 703 area code ran out of phone numbers. To avoid splitting the area and assigning a new area code to some residents, the decision was made to overlay 571 onto the existing 703 area.
History of the 571 Area Code
The 571 area code came into being on March 1, 2000. It was the 276th area code created in North America and one of 14 new area codes introduced that year.
Why was it created? The 571 area code was designed as an overlay to relieve pressure on the existing 703 area code. Northern Virginia was experiencing a boom, and the demand for phone numbers was outstripping the available supply.
Virginia currently has ten area codes in use.
What time zone is area code 571 in?
Area code 571 is in the Eastern Time Zone (America/New_York). Remember that the East Coast observes daylight saving time (EDT) during the summer, so plan your calls accordingly!
Telephone Carriers and Prefix Usage
Various telephone companies, both landline and wireless, operate in the 571 area code, each assigned specific prefixes within the numbering system. Prefixes are the three digits that follow the area code in a phone number (for example, in 571-XXX-YYYY, XXX is the prefix). They’re like a mini-area code, identifying a particular switch or carrier.
Landline Carriers
Major landline carriers in the 571 area code include Verizon and Comcast. Currently, about 49% of the prefixes in the 571 area code are assigned to landline carriers.
Wireless Carriers
Wireless carriers also use the 571 area code, with around 51% of the prefixes assigned to them.
Prefix Breakdown
About 70% of the assigned prefixes in the 571 area code belong to a telecommunications company, or “telco.” Around 1% of the prefixes are currently unknown.
Who lives in the 571 area code?
The 571 area code covers a large swath of Northern Virginia, so it’s home to people with diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.
Top counties by population
Fairfax County, Virginia, has the lion’s share of the population served by the 571 area code. Of the roughly 2.8 million people living in the area, more than 1 million (about 38%) live in Fairfax County.
The rest of the population is spread throughout the cities and towns of Northern Virginia.
Major cities by population
Because the 571 area code encompasses so many cities, towns, and unincorporated communities, there’s a wide range of income levels, educational attainment, and age distribution among the people who live there.
The fact that so many people call this region home is a big reason why another area code (838) was added to the same geographic area.
Final Thoughts
The 571 area code serves Northern Virginia, including many cities and counties in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Created in 2000 to relieve the overburdened 703 area code, 571 is now an integral part of the region’s telecommunications landscape.
Understanding area codes like 571 is key to navigating modern communication in the United States.