904 Area Code: Cities, Counties & the 324 Overlay

What the 904 Area Code Tells You About Northeast Florida

Dial a number that starts with 904 and you've reached the First Coast — Jacksonville, the beaches, and the historic towns stretched along Florida's northeast corner. It's one of the state's oldest area codes, and in 2024 it picked up a companion that changed how everyone in the region dials.

Here's what's actually changed, where 904 reaches, and what it means whether you're calling a number or claiming one.

• 904 has been Northeast Florida's defining area code since 1965, covering one of the fastest-growing metro regions in the southeastern United States — Jacksonville's rapid population growth across Duval, St. Johns, and Clay counties has made the 904 footprint one of Florida's most economically active numbering plan areas outside the Miami and Orlando metros
• The First Coast identity tied to 904 spans both the largest city by land area in the contiguous US and the nation's oldest continuously occupied European settlement — Jacksonville's 874 square miles and St. Augustine's 1565 founding date sit inside the same 904 footprint, giving the code an unusually wide geographic and historical range for a single Florida area code
• The 324 overlay added in February 2024 expanded number supply without displacing a single existing 904 line — regulators chose an overlay over a geographic split, preserving every Jacksonville business's existing caller ID while opening a fresh pool of Northeast Florida numbers for new residents and businesses entering the region

WHERE THE 904 AREA CODE REACHES

The 904 numbering plan covers most of the First Coast region of Northeast Florida. It's a compact, recognizable footprint that's been tied to the Jacksonville metro for decades.

Counties Served

Seven counties fall inside the plan, anchored by the Jacksonville metro:

• Duval County — Jacksonville and the urban core
• St. Johns County — St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra
• Clay County — Orange Park and Green Cove Springs
• Nassau County — Fernandina Beach and Yulee
• Baker, Bradford, and Putnam — surrounding communities

Cities and Towns Inside the Plan

Around 25 cities use the code. The headline names: Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, St. Augustine, Fleming Island, Orange Park, and Yulee.

That mix — a major city, beach towns, and the nation's oldest city — is why a 904 number reads as genuinely local across the whole region.

THE 324 OVERLAY: WHAT CHANGED IN 2024

If you've noticed 324 numbers showing up, that's the new overlay. NANPA announced it on June 3, 2022, and it went into service on February 26, 2024.

Why an Overlay Instead of a Split

A split would have forced existing customers in part of the region to change their numbers. An overlay avoids that — 324 simply sits on top of the same geography, adding fresh number inventory as the old supply runs low.

What an Overlay Means for You

Nobody's number changes. New lines may be assigned 324 instead of 904, so two neighbors can now sit in different codes. Both serve the identical area.

If you already have a 904 line, the takeaway is simple: a 904 number is now a small badge of seniority in the region, since the freshest inventory carries the 324 code.

TIME ZONE AND DIALING RULES

The 904 region sits in the Eastern Time Zone and observes daylight saving time — same clock as New York, Atlanta, and Miami.

10-Digit Dialing Is Now Mandatory

Because 904 and 324 share territory, every local call needs the full 10 digits — area code plus the seven-digit number. Dialing just seven digits no longer completes a call.

Calling From Outside the US

From abroad, dial your exit code, then +1, then the 10-digit number. The +1 is the country code for the entire North American Numbering Plan.

Curious about the wider system? Our guide to USA area codes explains how the map fits together.

WHY A 904 NUMBER STILL MATTERS FOR BUSINESS

A local number isn't a vanity detail. For a Jacksonville-area business, it's a quiet signal that you're nearby, reachable, and invested in the community.

The Trust Factor

People answer local calls more often than unknown or out-of-state numbers. A 904 caller ID tells a St. Augustine customer this isn't a cold call from three states away.

You Don't Need a Jacksonville Office

This is where virtual numbers come in. A cloud-based virtual phone system lets a remote team, a startup, or an out-of-state company carry a real 904 number — calls ring wherever your people actually are.

If you're weighing whether a local presence is worth it, a virtual line removes the usual blocker: no lease, no copper, no hardware. You can test the idea in an afternoon.

HOW TO GET A 904 NUMBER

Getting a number tied to this area code is straightforward with a VoIP provider. The whole process is software — no technician visit.

The Basic Steps

1. Pick a plan that matches your call volume and team size.
2. Search available 904 numbers and choose one that's easy to remember.
3. Configure your setup — call forwarding, voicemail, an auto attendant.
4. Go live and start taking calls, usually within minutes.

Already Have a 904 Number?

You can keep it. Number porting moves an existing 904 line to a new provider without changing the digits your customers already know. The losing carrier and the new one handle the transfer between them.

A heads-up: keep your old account active until the port completes. Cancelling early can cancel the number.

STAYING SAFE FROM 904 SPOOFING

A real downside of any well-known area code: scammers spoof it. A fraudulent caller can fake a 904 caller ID to look like a neighbor.

How to Protect Yourself

• Let unknown 904 calls go to voicemail — legitimate callers leave a message.
• Never share card numbers, passwords, or codes with an inbound caller.
• Verify by calling the business back on a number from its official website.

Modern VoIP networks help on the provider side too. STIR/SHAKEN caller authentication is now standard across US carriers and flags many spoofed calls before they ever ring.

JAXPORT and Northeast Florida logistics corridor

JAXPORT — one of the busiest container ports on the US East Coast — handles vehicle imports, consumer goods, and bulk cargo through terminals that make the 904 footprint one of the Southeast's most active maritime trade markets. For vendors serving this corridor, a 904 number signals local presence to terminal operators and logistics coordinators managing time-sensitive cargo movements daily.

Maritime and logistics businesses in the 904 region that benefit from a local number:

• Freight forwarding and customs brokerage vendors — freight forwarders and licensed customs brokers operating near JAXPORT use 904 numbers to build credibility with importers and exporters who prefer locally reachable logistics partners able to respond quickly during active cargo clearance windows and vessel arrival schedules at Blount Island and Dames Point terminals
• Port warehousing and distribution operators — warehouse and transload operators serving JAXPORT's container and roll-on/roll-off terminals use 904 numbers to build credibility with shippers who prefer locally accountable storage partners with genuine knowledge of Duval County port logistics and the I-95 and I-10 freight corridors serving Northeast Florida
• Vehicle import processing and inspection vendors — JAXPORT handles more automobiles than any other US port; logistics vendors supporting vehicle processing, inspection, and inland distribution use 904 numbers to stay accessible to automotive OEM representatives coordinating active vehicle delivery schedules across the Northeast Florida distribution network
• Marine equipment and vessel supply vendors — companies supplying marine hardware, safety equipment, and vessel maintenance products to JAXPORT's commercial fleet use 904 numbers to stay accessible to fleet managers coordinating time-sensitive provisioning and repair needs across active commercial berths at Jacksonville's port terminals

NAS Jacksonville and First Coast defense economy

Naval Air Station Jacksonville — one of the largest naval aviation complexes in the southeastern United States — anchors a military and defense contractor community that makes the 904 footprint one of Florida's most concentrated active-duty and veteran markets. For vendors serving this base, a 904 number signals local credibility to procurement offices who work almost exclusively with locally embedded partners.

Defense and military support businesses in the 904 region that benefit from a local number:

• Naval aviation maintenance and parts supply vendors — contractors supplying aircraft components, avionics equipment, and maintenance tooling to NAS Jacksonville's aviation depot operations use 904 numbers to build credibility with base contracting officers who prioritize locally reachable suppliers able to support urgent parts needs during active flight line maintenance schedules
• Military housing and relocation services firms — real estate agencies and relocation coordinators serving the PCS moves of NAS Jacksonville's active-duty sailors use 904 numbers to stay accessible to incoming service members searching for local housing partners familiar with the Orange Park, Fleming Island, and Ponte Vedra Beach markets near the base
• Defense IT and cybersecurity contracting firms — technology vendors holding Navy contracts at NAS Jacksonville use 904 numbers to build credibility with base IT officers managing active network security and communications infrastructure projects across the First Coast naval installation complex
• Veteran transition and employment placement services — staffing agencies placing transitioning NAS Jacksonville service members into Northeast Florida civilian roles use 904 numbers to signal genuine local market knowledge to veterans navigating the Jacksonville employment corridor during their separation from active duty

St. Augustine heritage tourism and hospitality market

St. Augustine — the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, founded in 1565 — draws more than seven million visitors annually to the 904 footprint, making Northeast Florida one of the Southeast's most established heritage tourism markets. For vendors serving this economy, a 904 number signals local presence to hotel operators and attraction managers who prioritize locally embedded partners.

Tourism and hospitality businesses in the 904 region that benefit from a local number:

• Historic tour and attraction operations vendors — companies supplying ticketing systems, audio tour technology, and visitor management solutions to St. Augustine's Castillo de San Marcos, Colonial Quarter, and Flagler College attraction circuit use 904 numbers to build credibility with attraction directors who prefer locally reachable technology partners familiar with the operational rhythms of high-volume heritage tourism sites
• Hotel and resort supply and amenity vendors — distributors supplying linens, amenity products, and food service supplies to St. Augustine's historic district hotel corridor and Ponte Vedra Beach resort properties use 904 numbers to stay accessible to purchasing managers coordinating active replenishment schedules during peak spring and summer visitation seasons
• Event and wedding venue production vendors — AV companies and event production firms serving St. Augustine's historic venue circuit — including Lightner Museum, the Flagler College Rotunda, and Casa Monica Resort — use 904 numbers to build credibility with event directors coordinating destination weddings and corporate retreats across the city's landmark properties
• Heritage food and specialty retail vendors — distributors supplying St. Augustine's restaurant corridor and St. George Street specialty retail scene use 904 numbers to build local supplier credibility with purchasing managers who prefer locally reachable supply partners over national distributors without genuine knowledge of the Northeast Florida tourism market

THE BOTTOM LINE

The 904 area code is no longer the only game in Northeast Florida — 324 shares the map now, and 10-digit dialing is the new normal. But 904 still carries decades of First Coast recognition, and that recognition is exactly what makes a local number valuable.

If a Jacksonville-area presence fits your plans, the fastest route is a virtual 904 number you can set up today. Start a free trial at mycountrymobile.com — no contract, no credit card, and you can pick your number in a few minutes.

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