The 701 area code covers the entire state of North Dakota — every city, county, and reservation — and has done so unchanged since 1947. Unlike almost every other area code in this guide series, 701 has never been split and never been overlaid. It's one of only 11 U.S. states served by a single area code from coast to coast. North Dakota spans two time zones, Central and Mountain.
This guide covers exactly where 701 reaches, why North Dakota never needed a second code, what's changing that math today, and how businesses set up a 701 number.
Where the 701 area code reaches
The 701 area code location is simple: it's every part of North Dakota, with no exceptions and no second code to worry about.
701 coverage by region:
| Region | Communities |
|---|---|
| Red River Valley | Fargo, West Fargo, Grand Forks |
| Central | Bismarck (capital), Mandan |
| Northwest | Minot, Williston |
| Southwest (Mountain Time) | Dickinson, Bowman, Hettinger |
What 701 does NOT cover:
- Minnesota (across the Red River) → 218 / 320 / 651 / 763 / 952
- South Dakota → 605
- Montana → 406
- Manitoba, Canada (north border) → 204
Why North Dakota has only one area code
When the North American Numbering Plan launched in 1947, each area code was built to hold roughly 7.9 million phone numbers. North Dakota's population — under 800,000 even today — never came close to exhausting that pool the way faster-growing states did. Cities like Detroit, Orlando, and Richmond needed second codes because their metro populations dwarfed what one area code could hold; North Dakota simply never got there.
What that means for callers:
701 is still a seven-digit dialing state for local calls in most areas — no mandatory ten-digit dialing, because there's no second code sharing the territory to create ambiguity. That's increasingly rare nationwide, where overlays like 679 and 686 have pushed most regions to ten-digit dialing.
North Dakota's two time zones
North Dakota is one of the few states split across two time zones under a single area code. Most of the state — Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and even Williston in the west — runs on Central Time (CT).
A smaller group of southwestern counties west of the Missouri River, including Dickinson, Bowman, and Hettinger, run on Mountain Time (MT). Both fall under the same 701 area code, so the area code alone won't tell you which time zone a number is in — worth checking before placing a call outside business hours.
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What's driving demand for North Dakota numbers
North Dakota's population reached a record high of roughly 800,000 residents as of the most recent Census estimates, and that growth is starting to strain 701's long-untouched number supply:
Energy sector growth The Bakken oil formation in western North Dakota has driven sustained population and business growth since the 2000s, adding lines across Williston and the surrounding oil patch.
Steady statewide growth As of 2025 utilization reporting, 701 had roughly 730 central-office codes in use with about 62 remaining — pushing projected exhaustion out to around 2030, a timeline that has already shifted earlier than prior estimates due to accelerating demand.
Agriculture and logistics North Dakota's agricultural economy continues to add commercial lines across grain elevators, co-ops, and logistics operations statewide.
Many of these North Dakota 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 locations across the state's spread-out geography. Contact us to set up a 701 number for your North Dakota business.
How to get a 701 area code number for your business
- Pick a 701 number — Search available 701 prefixes tied to Fargo, Bismarck, or wherever your customers are.
- Route to any device — Forward calls to a desk phone, mobile, or softphone app, no matter where your team works.
- Go live fast — Most VoIP providers, including My Country Mobile, can activate a new 701 number the same day.
- Port an existing number — Already have a 701 landline? Keep it and add VoIP lines as you grow.
Benefits of having a 701 area code phone number
Local credibility — A 701 number signals a genuine North Dakota presence to local customers, since it's the only area code in the state.
Competitive edge — Businesses expanding into North Dakota can claim a local number without opening a physical office first.
Cost-effective — VoIP-based 701 numbers typically cost less than traditional landlines, with no long-distance charges anywhere in the state.
Easy to dial — Seven-digit local dialing is still standard in most of North Dakota, making 701 numbers simple for repeat customers to recall.
Is 701 a scam number?
No area-code-specific scam pattern is uniquely tied to 701 — North Dakota sees the same general categories of robocalls and spoofed numbers as the rest of the country, rather than a distinct local pattern. Because 701 is the state's only code, spoofed calls claiming to be "local" are just as likely to use any 701 prefix. The FCC's STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework requires carriers to verify caller ID before a call connects, though no system catches everything — treat unexpected calls asking for payment or personal information with caution regardless of area code.
Key takeaways
- 701 is the sole area code for all of North Dakota, unchanged since 1947 — one of only 11 U.S. states with a single area code.
- North Dakota spans two time zones (Central and Mountain) under one area code.
- Seven-digit local dialing is still standard in most of the state — no overlay has ever forced ten-digit dialing.
- As of 2025 reporting, 701's number supply is projected to last until roughly 2030, driven by Bakken energy-sector growth.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 701 area code?
Area code 701 is the only telephone area code covering the entire state of North Dakota, assigned in 1947 and unchanged since.
Where is the 701 area code located?
Area code 701 covers all of North Dakota, including Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Williston.
Is 701 a spam number?
Not inherently — 701 is North Dakota's legitimate, only area code. No documented scam pattern is specifically tied to it beyond general nationwide robocall trends.
What time zone is the 701 area code?
Most of North Dakota under 701 is in the Central Time Zone (CT), but several southwestern counties west of the Missouri River are in the Mountain Time Zone (MT).
Has 701 ever been split or overlaid?
No. North Dakota's population has never been high enough to exhaust a single area code's number pool, so 701 remains the state's only code.
How do I get a 701 area code number?
Sign up with a VoIP provider such as My Country Mobile, search for available 701 numbers, choose a North Dakota prefix, select a plan, and activate.
Will North Dakota ever need a second area code?
Not immediately — 2025 utilization reporting projects 701's number supply lasting until around 2030, though that timeline has already moved earlier once due to accelerating demand.
