Memphis and its inner-ring suburbs share the 901 area code — and almost nothing else does. Created in 1947 as one of North America's original area codes, 901 once covered all of Tennessee, then shrank twice as 615 (1954) and 731 (2001) were carved away. What's left is one of the rarest things in modern telephony: a single area code serving a major US metro, with no overlay on top of it.
This guide covers 901's counties and cities, the shrink-but-never-overlay history that sets it apart, what's driving demand in FedEx's home city, why Memphis still allows 7-digit dialing, and how to get a number of your own.
Counties and cities at a glance
901 covers just four counties in the far southwestern corner of Tennessee — Shelby (home to Memphis), plus Fayette, Hardeman, and Tipton — anchored entirely by the Memphis metro.
Cities and towns inside 901: Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Arlington, Millington, Covington, Munford, and Somerville.
The major metro that shrank but never got an overlay
1947 — 901 launched covering the entire state of Tennessee.
1954 — A flash cut split the state: 901 kept West Tennessee, and 615 took the eastern two-thirds around Nashville and Knoxville.
September 2001 — 731 was carved out for most of rural West Tennessee, shrinking 901 down to just the four inner-ring Memphis counties it covers today.
Unlike almost every other big-city code, 901 has never needed an overlay added on top. Where Dallas, Atlanta, and Phoenix all stack two or three codes over the same ground, Memphis still runs on one — projected to stay viable well into the 2030s.
What's driving demand across Memphis
Memphis packs an outsized business base into a single area code:
The FedEx SuperHub Memphis International is the busiest cargo airport in the Western Hemisphere, and FedEx — the city's largest employer — sorts hundreds of thousands of shipments an hour through its global SuperHub.
St. Jude and healthcare St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Methodist Le Bonheur system anchor a large medical and research workforce.
Logistics and Fortune 500 headquarters Memphis is home to FedEx, AutoZone, International Paper, and Mueller Industries — four Fortune 500 companies — plus a deep distribution and warehousing sector.
Many of these Memphis businesses are moving their phone systems onto UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) — one cloud platform for calling, video, and messaging that scales as a company adds warehouses, clinics, or branch offices, the same pattern behind single-code metros elsewhere like 878 in Pittsburgh. Contact us to set up a 901 number for your Memphis-area business.
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Why Memphis can still dial with 7 digits
Because 901 has no overlay, there's no second area code sharing its numbers — so within the metro, many local calls can still be completed with just 7 digits, a holdover from the pre-overlay era that most large cities lost decades ago. Nationwide, 10-digit dialing became mandatory for the 988 crisis line in October 2021, and calling any number outside 901 always needs the full 10 digits. But for everyday local calls inside Memphis, the shorter form still works — one of fewer than 71 area codes in the whole country where that's true.
Time zone & how to dial a 901 number
Memphis runs on Central Time (CT) — CST (UTC −6) in winter, CDT (UTC −5) during Daylight Saving Time. Ten-digit dialing has been required for calls between 901 and neighboring 731 since 2001, and for the 988 line nationwide since 2021 — but for local calls inside 901, dial the seven-digit number, or 1 plus the area code and number to be safe.
Key takeaways
- 901 covers Memphis and three neighboring counties in far southwestern Tennessee.
- It launched statewide in 1947, then shrank via 615 (1954) and 731 (2001) — but has never been overlaid.
- It's one of the only major US metros still served by a single area code, so 7-digit local dialing still works inside it.
- Anchors include the FedEx SuperHub, St. Jude, and four Fortune 500 headquarters.
- Time zone: Central (CT).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 901 area code?
It's the sole area code for the Memphis, Tennessee metro, covering Shelby County and three neighboring counties in the far southwestern corner of the state.
Where is the 901 area code located?
Southwestern Tennessee — the Memphis metro, including Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, and Millington.
Is 901 a Florida area code?
No. It has never been assigned to Florida — this is strictly a Tennessee code.
What state is the 901 area code in?
Tennessee — specifically the Memphis metro in the southwestern corner of the state.
What time zone is the 901 area code?
Central Time Zone (CT) — CST (UTC −6) in winter and CDT (UTC −5) during Daylight Saving Time.
Why does Memphis still allow 7-digit dialing?
Because 901 has never been overlaid with a second area code, there's no ambiguity to resolve, so local calls inside the metro can still be dialed with 7 digits — a rarity most large cities lost long ago.
How do I get a 901 area code number?
Sign up with a VoIP provider such as My Country Mobile, search for available numbers in the 901 code, choose a Memphis-area prefix, select a plan, and activate.
