| State | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Timezone | Eastern |
| Is Area Code 859 Toll Free? | No |
Have you received phone calls from the 859 area code? Are you wondering where they are coming from? This article sheds light on the 859 area code, including what regions it covers, the origin of this code, and whether there are any known scams associated with this code.
When dialing an 859 area code callers will need the country code if dialing from outside of the country followed by a 10-digit number. The numbering plan area (NPA) code is 3 digits long, and the central office code or NXX which is 3 also digits long. The subscriber number is the last 4 digits of the phone number. Mandatory 10-digit dialing came in to effect in October 2021 even when dialing a local phone number. The change was announced prior to coming into effect to allow citizens to update any devices, cell phones or speed dialers.
Where is Area Code 859 Located?
Phone calls you’re receiving that start with 859 come from the state of Kentucky. Specifically, they emanate from the city of Lexington, Fayette county and from several regions in the central part of the state.
If you receive a phone call from area code 859, it could come from any of the following KY counties, Boone, Bourbon, Boyle, Campbell, Clark, Fayette, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Harrison, Jessamine, Kenton, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Nicholas, Pendleton, Washington, Woodford
There’s a chance your area code 859 phone call is coming from the city of Lexington. That’s because it’s the largest city that uses this code.
Lexington is known for its horse farms, thoroughbred race tracks, bluegrass music, exquisite gardens, and natural areas like the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary. The city is referred to as the Horse Capital of the World.
Other cities in northern and central Kentucky that utilize the 859 area code include, Danville, Covington, Florence, Mount Sterling, Nicholasville, Richmond, Versailles, Winchester, Berea, Alexandria, Paris, Harrodsburg, Warsaw, Glencoe, Cynthiana, Williamstown, Carlisle, Falmouth, Butler, Walton.
Legitimate phone calls may be coming from the University of Kentucky, based in Lexington. Founded in 1865, the university goes by UK, UKY, or U of K. More than 30,000 students are enrolled at UK.
What Is the Origin of this Area Code?
The 859 area code actually split off the 606 area code, which serves the easternmost portion of the state of Kentucky and came into service on April 1st, 2000. The whole area code is within the eastern time zone. It is number that is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) that works with the federal communication commission.
The 606 telephone area code was created in 1954, when it split from the 502 area code that, at the time, covered the whole eastern half of the state.
Then in 1999, Lexington and parts of northern and central Kentucky split off from the 606 area code, becoming the 859 area code that continues to be in use today.
On a standard telephone keypad, the digits 859 translate easily to UKY, which refers to the University of Kentucky.
Are There Any Known Scams Associated with this Area Code?
In Kentucky, the Attorney General’s office offers consumer alert information designed to protect people in the state from scams. Kentuckians can sign up to receive alerts; they can also report scams to the Office of Attorney General.
Scams take many forms, and some of the most common ones targeting Kentuckians include investment scams, identity theft scams, unemployment insurance fraud, online purchase scams, work from home scams, and many others. In Kentucky, residents can also register their phone numbers with a state no-call list to avoid robocalls.
