Area Code 501
Arkansas
Area code 501 serves Arkansas, primarily Little Rock, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It has served the region since 01-Jan-1947.
Area Code Splits
Parts of this area code’s original geographic region were later assigned new area codes through splits. When a split occurs, some customers in the original area code region are assigned the new area code.
Split into: area code 479 (Fayetteville).
Demographics
The estimated population served by area code 501 is approximately 1,646,273. The population density is 91 people per square mile, which is near the national average of 94. The median household income is $60,385, which is lower than the national median of $78,538. Approximately 28.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national rate of 35.0%. This rate is lower than the national average. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%, which is higher than the national rate of 12.4%.
History
Area code 501 is one of the original area codes established in 1947 when the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) was created. Over time, area code area code 479 was split from 501.
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 1,646,273
- Population Density
- 91 people/sq minear U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $60,385below U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 14.8%above U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.6%below U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+28.1%below U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower35.7%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Geographic Coverage
State
AR
Major Cities
- Little Rock
- Conway
- North Little Rock
- Hot Springs
- Benton
- Sherwood
- Jacksonville
- Cabot
- Searcy
- Bryant
- Maumelle
- Malvern
- Beebe
- Heber Springs
- Morrilton
- Ward
- East End
- Greenbrier
- Shannon Hills
- Piney
- Vilonia
- Lonoke
- Gibson
- Haskell
and 97 more cities
Time Zone
- Central Time (CT)
Current Time
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 501).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pulaski, AR | 488,587 | 29.7% |
| Faulkner, AR | 238,062 | 14.5% |
| Saline, AR | 205,473 | 12.5% |
| Garland, AR | 132,789 | 8.1% |
| Hot Spring, AR | 114,464 | 7.0% |
| Lonoke, AR | 113,374 | 6.9% |
| White, AR | 82,610 | 5.0% |
| Cleburne, AR | 69,585 | 4.2% |
| Grant, AR | 67,550 | 4.1% |
| Conway, AR | 30,941 | 1.9% |
| Van Buren, AR | 25,988 | 1.6% |
| Prairie, AR | 21,145 | 1.3% |
| Independence, AR | 14,139 | 0.9% |
| Stone, AR | 11,090 | 0.7% |
| Perry, AR | 10,511 | 0.6% |
| Jefferson, AR | 8,143 | 0.5% |
| Clark, AR | 4,673 | 0.3% |
| Jackson, AR | 3,126 | 0.2% |
| Pope, AR | 2,129 | 0.1% |
| Montgomery, AR | 1,162 | 0.1% |
| Yell, AR | 732 | 0.0% |
Call Context
This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across AR, with Little Rock as a primary city.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 501.
Other Area Codes in Arkansas
Area codes that also serve Arkansas, linked for easy comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 501 and how phone numbering works.
Phone numbers assigned to area code 501 are tied to where they were originally provisioned — not the caller's current location. This code serving roughly 1646k people covers Little Rock in AR, so a number originally set up there will retain the 501 prefix even if the owner moves or uses VoIP. Mobile phones keep their original number when users relocate, and businesses often adopt local area codes to establish a regional presence.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its geographic context — area code 501 is associated with Little Rock in AR. For caller-specific details, use your carrier's caller ID features or check public directories. If you suspect fraud, you can report it to the FTC. To file a complaint about robocalls or spoofed numbers, visit the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. You can also register with the National Do Not Call Registry.
While Little Rock is a prominent city in this area code's coverage, the code serves the broader surrounding region as well. Area codes are assigned geographically and typically cover multiple cities, towns, and communities beyond any single anchor city.