Quick answer
Area code 706 serves northern and west-central Georgia, outside metro Atlanta. Cities in it include Augusta, Columbus, Athens, Rome, Toccoa and Dahlonega. This guide covers where 706 is, how it came to be, how to dial it and what to know before using a 706 number for a business.
- Area code 706 covers northern and west-central Georgia, but not metropolitan Atlanta.
- Cities in 706 include Augusta, Columbus, Athens, Rome, Toccoa and Dahlonega.
- It began service in 1992, when almost all of Georgia outside the Atlanta area was split from area code 404.
- Area code 762 is an overlay of 706, assigned in 2005, and ten-digit dialing became mandatory in the overlay area on April 1, 2007.
Where is area code 706?
Area code 706 covers the northern and west-central parts of Georgia, excluding metropolitan Atlanta. Its best-known cities are Augusta in the east, Columbus in the west, Athens in the north-east and Rome in the north-west, plus smaller places such as Toccoa and Dahlonega in the mountains. Counties in the area include Richmond, Muscogee, Clarke, Columbia, Floyd, Whitfield, Troup, Habersham, Jackson, Gordon and Banks.
The territory is not one solid block. It wraps around the Atlanta suburbs and includes regions that are not connected to each other, so a 706 number can belong to a university town, a river city or a mountain community. For a business, the code stands for "Georgia outside Atlanta" rather than for a single city.
| City | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Augusta | Richmond County, east Georgia |
| Columbus | Muscogee County, west-central Georgia |
| Athens | Clarke County, home of the University of Georgia |
| Rome | Floyd County, north-west Georgia |
| Toccoa | Stephens County, north-east Georgia |
| Dahlonega | Lumpkin County, north Georgia mountains |
706 area code history
The code has a short, well-documented history. These are the dates that matter:
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Georgia is a single numbering area with area code 404. |
| July 1, 1954 | The southern part of the state is split off with area code 912. |
| 1992 | Almost all of the territory outside the Atlanta area is split from 404 with area code 706. |
| 1995 | Area code 770 is activated around Atlanta. |
| June 24, 2005 | Area code 762 is assigned as an overlay of 706. |
| April 1, 2007 | Ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory in the overlay area. |
How to dial
Area code 762 overlays 706, and ten-digit dialing became mandatory in the overlay area on April 1, 2007. In the overlay area every local call needs ten digits: the area code plus the seven-digit number. Dialing all ten digits works everywhere in 706, so it is the safest habit to adopt.
Calls from outside the area use 1 + 706 (or 762) + the seven-digit number. If you work with callers across Georgia, save every contact as a full ten-digit number so your phone system does not guess which code is meant.
Will the area code change?
Despite rapid growth in Georgia, area code 706 is nowhere near running out of numbers. Projections on the code's Wikipedia page expect the area to stay in service until after 2049, so no new split or overlay is currently expected beyond 762.
Time zone and business hours
Georgia, including the whole 706 area, observes Eastern Time. A call to Augusta, Columbus or Athens is on the same clock as New York and three hours ahead of Pacific Time.
Using a 706 number for business
Many customers in Augusta, Columbus and Athens look for a local number before they trust an unfamiliar company. A 706 number shows a business is part of the regional economy instead of a call centre in another state, which matters most for service trades, clinics and student-focused businesses around the University of Georgia.
Ringflow can give a team a 706 number that rings on any phone, with call forwarding, voicemail-to-email and two-way text messaging on the same line. Porting an existing 706 number is free, and a 14-day free trial is available. Number availability varies by area code, so confirm it at signup.
If you also work in nearby areas, see our guides to area code 912 and area code 770, or read how a virtual phone number works and how to add a second business number.
Spam and scam calls
Scam callers often spoof local numbers, so a 706 caller ID does not prove the call is local. Never give a one-time passcode, bank details or a Social Security number to someone who called you first. Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov to cut down on telemarketing.
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FAQ
Area code 706 covers northern and west-central Georgia outside metro Atlanta, including Augusta, Columbus, Athens, Rome, Toccoa and Dahlonega.
No. Metropolitan Atlanta uses other area codes, and 706 was created in 1992 for most of the state outside the Atlanta area.
Area code 762 is an overlay of 706, assigned on June 24, 2005. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory in the overlay area on April 1, 2007.
In the overlay area you must dial ten digits for local calls. Dialing ten digits works everywhere in 706, so it is the safe choice.
Eastern Time, the same as the rest of Georgia.
