Area Code 821
South Carolina
Geographic Coverage
State
SC
Major Cities
- Greenville
- Greer
- Spartanburg
- Anderson
- Mauldin
- Simpsonville
- Easley
- Taylors
- Greenwood
- Wade Hampton
- Five Forks
- Clemson
- Berea
- Gantt
- Gaffney
- Boiling Springs
- Parker
- Powdersville
- Fountain Inn
- Laurens
- Seneca
- Sans Souci
- Travelers Rest
- Union
and 121 more cities
Time Zone
- Eastern Time (ET)
Current Time
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 2,324,189
- Population Density
- 180 people/sq miabove U.S. average (U.S.: 94 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $64,195below U.S. median (U.S.: $78,538)
- Poverty Rate
- 14.6%above U.S. average (U.S.: 12.4%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.5%below U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+28.5%below U.S. average (U.S.: 35.0%)High School or Lower33.7%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates.See Sources for details.
Overlay Area Code
This area code is part of an overlay region, meaning the same geographic area is served by multiple area codes. Overlay codes were introduced to meet growing demand for phone numbers without requiring existing customers to change their numbers.
This area code shares its geographic region with: area code 864.
In service since: 19-Aug-2024
Call Context
This area code serves the same geographic region as area code 864 in South Carolina. It was introduced as an overlay of area code 864, meaning both codes serve the same geographic territory.
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 821).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 646,931 | 27.8% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 422,328 | 18.2% |
| Anderson, SC | 335,460 | 14.4% |
| Pickens, SC | 223,738 | 9.6% |
| Laurens, SC | 184,345 | 7.9% |
| Abbeville, SC | 119,344 | 5.1% |
| Cherokee, SC | 96,557 | 4.2% |
| Oconee, SC | 89,857 | 3.9% |
| Greenwood, SC | 85,571 | 3.7% |
| Union, SC | 38,591 | 1.7% |
| McCormick, SC | 26,399 | 1.1% |
| Saluda, SC | 18,429 | 0.8% |
| Edgefield, SC | 18,338 | 0.8% |
| York, SC | 9,855 | 0.4% |
| Newberry, SC | 4,952 | 0.2% |
| Chester, SC | 1,747 | 0.1% |
| Fairfield, SC | 1,747 | 0.1% |
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 821.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about area code 821 and how phone numbering works.
Phone numbers are assigned based on where the number was originally provisioned, not the caller's current location. Mobile phones retain their number when users move, and businesses may use numbers from regions where they don't have a physical presence. VoIP services can also provision numbers from virtually any area code.
Yes, mobile phones can have numbers from any area code in the region they were activated. Wireless carriers assign numbers from available pools regardless of phone type. When users change carriers or move to new areas, they typically keep their original number, which may have a different area code than their current location.
Start by looking up the area code on this site to understand its general geographic region. For the specific number, options include using your carrier's caller ID features or checking 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 your number with the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce unwanted calls. Keep in mind that caller ID can display any name the caller chooses to set.
When an area's pool of available phone numbers runs low, regulators may introduce an "overlay" area code that covers the same geographic territory as the original. Both codes coexist, and new numbers are assigned from whichever code has availability. Learn more in our overlay vs split guide.
While Buffalo 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.
New area codes are introduced when existing codes in a region approach exhaustion of available number combinations. The telecommunications industry and regulatory bodies plan these additions years in advance to ensure seamless transitions. Recent codes are typically overlays, sharing territory with established codes.