Area Code for Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, North Carolina runs on two area codes: 919 — the original Research Triangle code established in 1954 — and 984, the overlay added on April 30, 2012.

Both cover the same geography: the Research Triangle region spanning 13 counties, from Raleigh (the state capital) and Durham through Chapel Hill, Cary, and the suburban communities of Wake and surrounding counties.

Research Triangle Park (RTP) — one of the largest research and technology campuses in the United States — sits inside this 919/984 footprint, drawing IBM, Cisco, GlaxoSmithKline, and dozens of biotech and government research organizations to a single 7,000-acre campus.

Whether you’re decoding a Raleigh caller ID, understanding why your contact has a 984 number instead of 919, or choosing a local number for your business, this guide covers everything.

What’s the area code for Raleigh?

Raleigh does not have a single area code. It has two, sharing an identical geographic footprint:

Code	Established	Coverage	Notes
919	1954 (split from 704)	Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary + 13 counties	Original eastern NC code; now Research Triangle only
984	April 30, 2012 (overlay)	Same as 919 — full Research Triangle NPA	NC overlay; mandatory 10-digit dialing since Apr 2012

Both codes operate in the Eastern Time Zone (ET) — UTC−5 in winter, UTC−4 during EDT.

Both require 10-digit dialing for all local calls since April 2012.

There is no geographic difference between a 919 and a 984 number — both are fully Raleigh (and Durham, and Chapel Hill).

Triangle area codes by city

Area codes 919 and 984 serve the full Research Triangle metro and surrounding communities:

City	County	Notes
Raleigh	Wake	State capital; 500,000+ population
Durham	Durham	Duke University, Duke Medical Center
Chapel Hill	Orange	UNC Chapel Hill; UNC Health
Cary	Wake	Fast-growing tech suburb; SAS Institute HQ
Apex	Wake	Consistently ranked one of best places to live in US
Wake Forest	Wake	Northern Wake County; growing commuter town
Morrisville	Wake	Between RTP and RDU airport; many tech offices
Holly Springs	Wake	Fastest-growing town in NC
Research Triangle Park	Durham / Wake	7,000-acre research park; IBM, Cisco, GSK
Garner	Wake	Southern Wake County suburb
Sanford	Lee	Southern edge of 919 NPA
Pittsboro	Chatham	Western Chatham County

SAS Institute — the largest private software company in the world — is headquartered in Cary, inside the 919/984 footprint.

History of Raleigh area codes

1947 — All of North Carolina = 704

When AT&T and the Bell System launched the North American Numbering Plan on January 1, 1947, all of North Carolina received a single code: 704. At launch, NANPA assigned 86 original codes across the US and Canada.

1954 — 919 splits off eastern and central NC

North Carolina’s growing population required a second code. The eastern and central portions of the state — from Winston-Salem and the Piedmont Triad east through Raleigh, Durham, and down to the coast — were reassigned area code 919.

Area code 704 was reduced to the Charlotte metro and western NC. This is the 919 that still serves Raleigh today.

1993 — 910 takes the southwestern corner

Rapid fax machine and pager adoption in the late 1980s and early 1990s strained 919’s number pool. The solution was a geographic split: the southwestern portion of 919 — covering Wilmington, Fayetteville, and the Cape Fear region — became area code 910.

1998 — 252 takes northeastern NC

A second split carved the northeastern coastal counties — the Outer Banks, Greenville, and the northeast corridor — into a new code, 252. After this split, 919 was confined to the Research Triangle and immediate surrounding counties — the footprint it holds today.

2001 — 984 overlay planned but deferred

By the late 1990s, mobile phone growth was consuming 919 numbers faster than the geographic splits had relieved pressure. NANPA and the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approved area code 984 as an overlay for the remaining 919 territory.

The overlay was originally scheduled for 2001, but the FCC’s implementation of number pooling — which required carriers to share number blocks in 1,000-number chunks rather than hoarding full 10,000-number prefixes — freed enough inventory to delay the overlay for a decade.

2011–2012 — 984 overlay launches

The Triangle’s continued growth meant the delay could not continue. In September 2011, the NCUC commenced implementation. A permissive dialing period ran from October 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012, during which local callers could dial either 7 or 10 digits.

On April 30, 2012, ten-digit dialing became mandatory and the 984 overlay was fully active. The transition caused a notable side effect: “thousands of wrong number calls to 9-1-1” as residents dialing area code 919 accidentally hit 9-1-1 during the adjustment period.

Today — No exhaust date

NANPA’s current projections show no exhaust date for the 919/984 complex. The Research Triangle will not need a third area code for at least 30 years.

919 as Raleigh and Research Triangle identity

Few area codes carry as much research, government, and technology identity as 919.

Research Triangle Park (RTP)

Founded in 1959, Research Triangle Park is one of the largest planned research and technology parks in the United States — 7,000 acres, 22.5 million square feet of built space, more than 300 companies, and approximately 65,000 workers plus 10,000 contractors.

The park is positioned within the geographic triangle formed by three major research universities: NC State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and UNC Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill). All three anchor institutions carry 919 numbers.

Major RTP tenants include IBM (four-building complex, 774,000 sq ft), GlaxoSmithKline (largest R&D center outside the UK, approx. 5,000 employees), Cisco Systems (second-largest campus globally, approx. 5,000 employees), and RTI International (one of the world’s largest independent research institutes).

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) — part of the National Institutes of Health — is also located at RTP, making the 919 footprint home to both private-sector and federal research infrastructure.

State government

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina. The North Carolina General Assembly, Governor’s office, state agency headquarters, and state court system all operate on 919 numbers. For businesses dealing with state government contacts, 919 is the code of state bureaucracy.

Universities

NC State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and UNC Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill) are all 919 institutions. Together they form a research corridor producing tens of thousands of graduates annually in STEM, medicine, and business — feeding directly into the RTP employment base.

Sports and culture

The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) play at PNC Arena in Raleigh — a 919 address. NC State athletics (Wolfpack) operate under 919. The NC State Fair — held at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh each October — is a 919 institution.

The combination of state government, research university cluster, private-sector biotech and tech, and federal research presence makes 919 a uniquely high-credential area code in American telephony.

Raleigh area code spam and scams

Area codes 919 and 984 are targets for neighbor spoofing — scammers match local prefixes to increase answer rates. The Research Triangle’s density of universities, healthcare systems, and technology firms provides specific cover for impersonation attempts.

Duke Energy utility shutoff

Spoofed 919/984 calls claim your Duke Energy power will be cut within 30 minutes unless you pay immediately via prepaid card or wire transfer. Duke Energy has documented thousands of scam reports across the Carolinas. Duke Energy never calls demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection.

Duke Health and UNC Health impersonation

Callers impersonating Duke University Health System or UNC Health ask to “verify” insurance information, collect copayments over the phone, or request a “background check fee” for a fake job opening. Both health systems initiate billing through mail and patient portals — not surprise phone calls.

Fake research recruitment (RTP-specific)

Scammers target RTP employees and Triangle-area professionals with spoofed calls offering fake research study positions, clinical trial recruitment, or high-paying contract roles. The asks: Social Security numbers, bank routing numbers for “direct deposit setup,” or upfront equipment fees.

SSN suspension and arrest threats

A robocall claims your Social Security number has been suspended due to fraudulent activity, or that a warrant exists for your arrest. The caller demands you call back and provide information — or pay via gift cards. Neither the SSA nor law enforcement operates this way.

“Bethany” home purchase robocalls

A recorded voice named “Bethany” from “Equity Home Offer” or a similar name makes an unsolicited all-cash offer for your property. The callback number is typically a spoofed 919 number.

The FCC spoofing guide explains how caller ID can be forged regardless of which area code appears.

The industry-wide response is STIR/SHAKEN — cryptographic call authentication mandated by the FCC under the TRACED Act. A-attestation means the carrier has fully verified the caller owns the number shown.

DialPhone 919 and 984 numbers carry STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation. Your outbound business calls display as verified rather than flagged as Spam Risk on recipient handsets.

How to get a Raleigh business phone number

You do not need a physical Raleigh office to get a 919 or 984 business number. Cloud VoIP providers provision Triangle numbers in minutes.

1. Choose your area code. Use 919 for maximum Research Triangle name recognition — it is the code RTP, state government, and the universities identify with. Use 984 for equivalent geographic reach when 919 inventory is limited. Both are fully legitimate Raleigh numbers.
2. Sign up at DialPhone pricing. Month-to-month plans available — no annual contract required on entry plans.
3. Search Raleigh number inventory. Filter by area code during setup. Both 919 and 984 pools are available; 984 typically has broader inventory for new assignments.
4. Port your existing number (optional). Submit a Letter of Authorization and your most recent phone bill. NC area code ports typically complete in 2–5 business days. Full instructions in the number porting guide.
5. Activate your AI receptionist. DialPhone’s AI receptionist answers, qualifies leads, and routes calls — a 24/7 Raleigh presence without full-time receptionist staff.

Your business phone is active as soon as the number is assigned.

See DialPhone pricing or start with a free trial to search available Raleigh numbers today.

Famous companies in Raleigh area codes

Raleigh’s 919 and 984 codes appear in the contact information of some of the most consequential technology, biotech, and government-adjacent organizations in the United States.

Red Hat (HQ: Raleigh, 919) — the world’s leading open-source enterprise software company, acquired by IBM in a $34 billion deal in 2019. Red Hat’s headquarters on E Davie Street is one of the highest-profile 919 addresses in downtown Raleigh.

Bandwidth Inc. (HQ: Raleigh, 919) — a publicly traded cloud communications platform that powers calling and messaging for companies like Google, Microsoft, Zoom, and RingCentral. Bandwidth is headquartered in Raleigh’s downtown.

IBM at RTP (919) — IBM has operated a four-building campus at Research Triangle Park since the 1960s, totaling 774,000 square feet and historically one of the park’s largest employers.

Cisco Systems at RTP (919) — Cisco’s Research Triangle Park campus is its second-largest in the world, with approximately 5,000 employees across networking, security, and collaboration divisions.

GlaxoSmithKline at RTP (919) — GSK operates one of its largest global R&D centers at RTP with approximately 5,000 employees, focused on pharmaceuticals, biologics, and vaccine research.

SAS Institute (HQ: Cary, 919) — the largest private software company in the world by revenue, headquartered in Cary (919 territory) with more than 14,000 global employees.

Pendo (HQ: Raleigh, 919) — a product analytics and digital adoption platform startup valued at $2.6 billion, headquartered in downtown Raleigh.

RTI International (RTP, 919) — one of the world’s largest independent nonprofit research and development organizations, headquartered at RTP and conducting work across health, social science, and environmental sectors.

IQVIA (formerly Quintiles, RTP, 919) — a leading global life-sciences data and clinical research organization that traces its roots to the Triangle, where Quintiles was founded in 1982.

Raleigh area code FAQ

Raleigh area code FAQ

What is the area code for Raleigh, NC? +

Raleigh uses two area codes: 919 and 984. Area code 919 was established in 1954 when eastern and central North Carolina split from the original 704 code. Area code 984 is an overlay introduced on April 30, 2012, covering the exact same geography.

Both codes serve the Research Triangle region — Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and surrounding Wake, Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties. There is no geographic difference between them.

What cities are in the 919 and 984 area codes? +

The 919/984 service area covers 13 counties in east-central North Carolina. Major cities include Raleigh (state capital), Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Pittsboro, and Sanford.

Research Triangle Park (RTP) — one of the largest research and technology parks in the US — also sits within the 919/984 coverage area, spanning the Wake-Durham county border.

When was area code 919 established? +

Area code 919 was established in 1954. When AT&T launched the North American Numbering Plan in 1947, all of North Carolina used area code 704. In 1954, the eastern and central portions were split off as 919, covering Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and everything east to the coast.

Successive splits in the 1990s reduced 919's territory — 910 took the southwest in 1993 and 252 took the northeast coast in 1998 — leaving 919 covering only the Research Triangle and surrounding counties.

Why does Raleigh have a second area code (984)? +

Raleigh got the 984 overlay because the 919 number pool approached exhaustion. The Research Triangle's rapid population growth and the explosion of mobile phones and internet-connected devices drained available numbers faster than expected.

The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and NANPA approved a 984 overlay — rather than a geographic split — so existing 919 customers could keep their numbers. A permissive dialing period ran from October 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory on April 30, 2012.

Are 919 and 984 the same coverage area? +

Yes. Area codes 919 and 984 are a co-overlay complex covering identical geography — 13 counties in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. Both codes serve Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and all surrounding communities within that numbering plan area.

NANPA projections show no exhaust date for the 919/984 complex, meaning the Triangle will not need a third area code for at least 30 years.

Are 919 calls spam? +

Not inherently. Legitimate Raleigh and Research Triangle businesses use 919 and 984 numbers. The issue is neighbor spoofing — scammers fake a local 919 caller ID to boost answer rates.

Common Triangle-specific scams include Duke Energy utility shutoff calls, Duke Health and UNC Health impersonation, fake research recruitment targeting RTP employees, SSN suspension threats, and 'Bethany' home purchase robocalls. DialPhone 919 and 984 numbers carry STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation — the highest trust level — so your outbound business calls display as verified.

What is STIR/SHAKEN and how does it affect 919 calls? +

STIR/SHAKEN is a cryptographic call-authentication framework mandated by the FCC under the TRACED Act. It assigns each outbound call an attestation level: A (carrier has fully verified the caller owns that number), B (partial), or C (unverified gateway).

Spoofed scam calls receive C-attestation or none, triggering 'Spam Likely' on modern smartphones. DialPhone 919 and 984 numbers carry A-attestation — your outbound calls reach recipients as verified rather than flagged. See the full breakdown at our STIR/SHAKEN glossary page.

How do I get a Raleigh 919 or 984 business phone number? +

You can get a Raleigh 919 or 984 number from a cloud VoIP provider without a physical Raleigh office. The process takes under 10 minutes: sign up, select area code 919 or 984, and the number is provisioned instantly.

DialPhone Raleigh numbers include STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation, AI receptionist, call recording, and SMS. See DialPhone pricing or start a free trial to search available 919 and 984 inventory.

How long does it take to port a number to a 919 area code? +

Number porting for 919 and 984 numbers typically completes in 2–5 business days when you submit a signed Letter of Authorization and a copy of your most recent phone bill.

The timeline depends on the losing carrier's processing speed. Most major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) process North Carolina ports within the standard window. Full instructions are in the DialPhone number porting guide.

Get a Raleigh business number

Whether you need a 919 area code number for core Research Triangle identity or a 984 area code number for broader inventory access, DialPhone has both codes available.

Numbers are provisioned instantly, port from any carrier in 2–5 business days, and include STIR/SHAKEN A-attestation, AI receptionist, call recording, and SMS on every plan.

See all North Carolina area codes, compare plans at DialPhone pricing, or start a free trial to search available Raleigh numbers.

Related: DialPhone business phone · AI receptionist · number porting guide · STIR/SHAKEN glossary