The 980 area code is located in North Carolina and exclusively serves the Charlotte metropolitan area, often called the “Queen City.” The 980 area code is an overlay for the region’s original area code, 704.
Introduced in 2001 to meet the demands of one of the fastest-growing major cities in the U.S., the 980 area code covers the same territory as 704 and requires all residents and businesses to use 10-digit dialing for local calls. This guide provides a full breakdown of the 980 area code’s location, key cities, and dialing requirements.
980 Area Code: Location and Coverage
The 980 area code is concentrated in the south-central portion of North Carolina, encompassing the financial and cultural hub of the state.
Primary Location and Time Zone
- State: North Carolina (NC), USA
- Major City: Charlotte
- Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone (ET) (UTC-5/UTC-4 during Daylight Saving Time)
- Key Region: The Charlotte metropolitan statistical area, a major financial center.
Major Cities and Counties Served
The 980 area code serves all or part of 12 surrounding counties and includes many major suburbs that feed into the Charlotte job market.
| Major City/Suburb | Primary County |
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg |
| Concord | Cabarrus |
| Gastonia | Gaston |
| Huntersville | Mecklenburg |
| Kannapolis | Cabarrus, Rowan |
| Salisbury | Rowan |
| Statesville | Iredell |
| Shelby | Cleveland |
| Matthews | Mecklenburg |
| Monroe | Union |
Counties Included: Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cabarrus, Union, Rowan, Iredell, Lincoln, and Cleveland.
980 Overlay Status and Dialing Requirements
The 980 area code holds the distinction of being North Carolina’s first area code overlay.
The 704/980 Overlay
The 704 area code was one of the original 86 area codes established in 1947. By the late 1990s, Charlotte’s explosive growth, driven by the financial sector (Bank of America, Wells Fargo East Coast operations) and the proliferation of cell phones, quickly exhausted the available 704 numbers.
- Introduction: Area code 980 was introduced in 2001 as an overlay to the entire 704 region.
- Function: Both 704 and 980 numbers are assigned to the same geographical region, sometimes even to the same street or building.
- Mandatory Dialing: Due to the overlay, all local calls within the Charlotte area must be placed using 10-digit dialing (Area Code + 7-digit number), regardless of whether you are calling a 704 number or a 980 number.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the time difference for a 980 phone number?
The 980 area code is located in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
- It is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time (PT).
- It is 1 hour ahead of Central Time (CT).
- It is the same time as New York City (ET).
Should I be worried about spam calls from the 980 area code?
The 980 area code, being a major metropolitan code, is frequently used by legitimate businesses and residents. However, it is also a common target for number spoofing. If you receive an unexpected call from a 980 number that claims to be from a bank or service requiring urgent action, be cautious. If the caller is legitimate, they will leave a message or contact you through official channels.
Do I need to dial a ‘1’ before dialing a 980 number?
For most modern mobile and landline service, you generally do not need to dial ‘1’ for a call to a 980 number within the United States. However, you must dial the full 10 digits (980 + 7-digit number) for the call to connect, even if you are calling from a local 704 or 980 number.
Does the 980 area code cross into South Carolina?
While the Charlotte metropolitan area spans the border into South Carolina, the 980 area code is strictly limited to North Carolina. The adjacent areas in South Carolina (like Rock Hill) are served by area codes 803 and 839.
