Area code 501 was introduced in 1947 and serves Central Arkansas, covering cities like Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway. It sits in the Central (CT) zone and reaches a population of roughly 1.2M+.
With MeraTalk, you can get a 501 number for Arkansas in minutes and run all your calls over the internet from any device.
A 501 number gives your business a genuine local footing in Arkansas, and the benefits go well beyond a familiar caller ID.
Outbound reps dial Central Arkansas prospects from a number those prospects recognize. A familiar 501 caller ID gets the conversation started instead of going to voicemail.
Give your Central Arkansas customers a local number to call for help. Calls route to your support team wherever they sit, with queues, schedules, and an AI receptionist after hours.
Your team doesn't need to live in Arkansas to answer a 501 number. Calls ring on laptops and mobiles anywhere, while customers see a hometown business.
Pair your 501 number with local numbers in other markets you serve. Each location keeps its own identity while every call lands in one shared MeraTalk workspace.
Area codes are added as a region's demand for phone numbers grows. Here's when each Arkansas code came online — and where 501 fits in.
501 was the first of Arkansas's current codes, assigned to Central Arkansas and anchored by Little Rock. It remains the code most residents associate with Little Rock and North Little Rock.
As Eastern & Southern Arkansas grew, 870 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Jonesboro and Pine Bluff. Existing numbers kept their codes — 870 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Northwest Arkansas grew, 479 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Fort Smith and Fayetteville. Existing numbers kept their codes — 479 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
As Eastern & Southern Arkansas (overlay) grew, 327 was introduced to keep up with demand for new numbers around Jonesboro and Pine Bluff. Existing numbers kept their codes — 327 simply opened fresh inventory for the area.
Make and receive calls and texts from your 501 number on desktop, mobile, or desk phone. One number for everything — no app-switching, no confusion.
Answers, screens, and routes every call to your 501 number around the clock — even when your team is offline or busy.
Every call and text to your 501 number is visible to the whole team — anyone can pick up, reply, or follow up.
Missed calls become readable transcripts delivered to your inbox.
Route Central Arkansas callers to the right person on your schedule.
Already have a 501 number? Bring it — porting is on every plan.
4 area codes covering Arkansas
Area code 501 is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) — the system that assigns three-digit codes to geographic regions across the US, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. Code 501 was assigned to Central Arkansas and serves Little Rock and North Little Rock as its primary markets.
When a call is made to a 501 number, the carrier routes it through the Central (CT) time zone switching network. This also means that when customers see a 501 number on their caller ID, they immediately associate it with Central Arkansas — before the call is even answered.
The area code on your caller ID shapes how customers in Central Arkansas decide whether to pick up or ignore your call.
Calls from a local 501 number are far more likely to be answered than calls from an out-of-state or toll-free number. Customers in Central Arkansas recognise the code and trust it as local.
A 501 number tells prospects in Arkansas that you operate in their market — even if your team is fully remote or based elsewhere. First impressions happen before the first word.
With a cloud-hosted 501 number, your team can answer calls from any device, in any location. The local area code stays consistent while your team stays flexible.
South listed first
Explore other South area codes and find the right local number for every market you serve.
Set up your 501 number on MeraTalk, compare other US area codes, or read the public record for Central Arkansas.
Read the in-depth guide to the 501 area code — coverage, history, cities, time zone and how to get a number.
On MeraTalkRun your 501 number on a full business phone system — calls, SMS, routing and an AI receptionist included.
On MeraTalkBrowse every US area code by state and find the right local number for the markets you serve.
External referenceSee the FCC's area code relief regulation (47 CFR §52.19) governing how area code 501 and every US area code is administered.
Same product, same support, same compliance on every plan. The AI receptionist is included from day one.
