What is the 304 Area Code? Time Zone and Location
- Area code 304 covers the entire state of West Virginia — it has a single overlay (681) that serves the same area.
- Combined with overlay 681, it covers 259 cities across all 55 counties in West Virginia, serving a population of 1,793,716.
- Major cities covered include Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Beckley, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Weirton, South Charleston, Teays Valley, Princeton, St. Albans, Dunbar, Cross Lanes, and Vienna.
- Area code 304 is located in the Eastern Time Zone — following Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5) during standard time and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4) during daylight saving time.
- Area code 304 was put into service in 1947 and was one of the original 86 area codes — the first and only area code in West Virginia until 2009, when overlay 681 was created to provide additional numbering capacity.
- 10-digit dialing mandatory for all local calls within the 304/681 overlay complex.
304 Area Code Quick Facts
| Area Code | 304 |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State / Region | West Virginia (entire state — all 55 counties) |
| Area Code Type | Overlay area code (shares region with area code 681) |
| Overlay Codes | 681 |
| Major Cities Covered | Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Beckley, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Weirton, South Charleston, Teays Valley, Princeton, St. Albans, Dunbar, Cross Lanes, Vienna, Bluefield, Elkins, Bridgeport |
| Primary City Association | Charleston, West Virginia (state capital and largest city) |
| Geographic Coverage | 259 cities across all 55 counties in West Virginia — from the panhandle communities of Martinsburg and Weirton in the east and north, through the coal country of the southern coalfields, to the Ohio River border cities of Huntington and Parkersburg in the west |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone (ET) |
| Standard Time Offset | UTC −5 hours |
| Daylight Saving Time | UTC −4 hours (EDT) |
| DST Period (2026 Example) | March → November |
| Introduced / Activation Date | January 1, 1947 — one of the original 86 area codes under the North American Numbering Plan |
| Reason for Creation | One of the original 86 area codes, with the middle digit "0" indicating it was assigned to serve the entire state of West Virginia from the very beginning; 681 was added as an overlay in 2009 as West Virginia's telecom demand grew |
| Dialing Requirement | 10-digit dialing mandatory (due to 304/681 overlay complex) |
| Coverage Nature | Overlay complex — 304 and 681 share the entire West Virginia geography |
| Population Coverage | Combined with overlay 681, serves a population of 1,793,716 across all of West Virginia |
| Nearby / Related Area Codes | 220/740 (Newark, OH), 223/717 (Lancaster, PA), 234/330 (Akron, OH), 276 (Bristol, VA), 412/878 (Pittsburgh, PA), 419/567 (Toledo, OH), 434 (Lynchburg, VA), 540/826 (Roanoke, VA), 582/814 (Erie, PA), 606 (Ashland, KY), 681 (304 overlay), 724 (New Castle, PA) |
| Telecom System | North American Numbering Plan (NANP) |
| Major Carriers | Frontier Communications (Verizon WV legacy), AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile, Sprint/T-Mobile, and smaller rural cooperative carriers serve the 304 region |
| Example Phone Format | (304) XXX-XXXX |
| Usage Type | Mobile, landline, VoIP numbers |
| Business Use | The original and most recognized West Virginia area code — essential for any business operating in the state |
| Number Availability | Covers roughly 7.85 million unique phone numbers across the 304/681 overlay complex |
| Area Code Status | Active and widely used |
| AG Warning on Spoofing | The West Virginia Attorney General's Office specifically warns that robocallers will often use 304 and 681 area codes to entice West Virginians to answer, advising residents not to rely on Caller ID for verification |
| Notable Geography | West Virginia is the only US state located entirely within the Appalachian Mountains region, with Charleston situated at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers — a state deeply shaped by coal mining, natural gas, timber, and chemical manufacturing heritage |
Is the 304 Area Code a Scam?
| Spam Ranking | Ranked #23 for spam complaints nationally — one of the highest-ranked area codes in the entire country — accounting for approximately 0.52% of all spam complaints |
|---|---|
| Spam Growth | Spam calls in West Virginia increased by 172.41% over the past year, with the highest volume recorded in February 2026, accounting for 12.34% of all calls, and the lowest in October 2025 at just 0.42% |
| Most Common Complaint Type | Prerecorded voice complaints make up 71.94% of total reports — the dominant complaint type by an overwhelming margin, indicating an extraordinarily high level of robocall activity targeting 304 numbers |
| Top Scam Categories | Medicare/Medicaid calls make up 12.95% of complaints — the single largest category — followed by auto warranty (5.22%), mortgage loans (4.68%), health insurance (3.6%), and political calls (2.16%) |
| Top Reported Cities for Complaints | Nitro, WV leads with 6.8% of complaints, followed by Martinsburg, WV, and Charleston, WV among the most frequently reported communities |
| Statewide Top Cities | Morgantown leads all West Virginia cities with 11.5% of complaints, followed by Mount Hope (9.26%), Martinsburg (4.47%), Charleston (4.12%), and Huntington |
| Peak Complaint Period | February 2026 saw the highest volume of complaints for area code 304, with May 2026 showing a 79.2% decrease compared to April 2026 |
| Statewide Fraud Impact | In 2024, West Virginia residents reported 8,767 fraud cases resulting in total losses of $27,018,386, with a median loss of $341 per victim, with Medicare scams leading the state as the top fraud category |
| AG Top 2025 Warning | The West Virginia Attorney General officially identified Medicare scams as the #1 scam targeting West Virginians in 2025 — issuing a consumer alert specifically naming them as the leading threat to WV residents |
| Common Labels | Medicare impersonator, SSA/IRS arrest threat, fake process server, AI grandparent bail scammer, car warranty robocaller, DMV smishing texter |
| Spoofing Risk | Robocallers specifically use the 304 and 681 area codes to entice West Virginians to answer — the West Virginia AG's Office explicitly warns residents not to rely on Caller ID and to hang up and call back using a number they have on file |
| Typical Strategy | Neighbor spoofing — faking familiar Charleston, Huntington, or Morgantown numbers to build trust in tight-knit West Virginia communities before making fraudulent Medicare, legal, or government demands |
| Signature Scam — "Brenda the Medicare Advisor" Back Brace Fraud | Robocallers claiming to be "Brenda, a Medicare advisor" bombard West Virginia residents with calls about Medicare benefits — warning it's your "last chance" to get a Medicare-covered back brace or that your coverage will be "canceled" if you don't respond immediately, then using your Medicare number to fraudulently bill the government for equipment never ordered or received |
| Signature Scam — SSA/IRS "Very Mean Agent" Threat | Callers pretend to be from the Social Security Administration or the IRS, claiming your Social Security number has been "suspended for suspicious fraudulent activity" — becoming very aggressive when questioned, with one West Virginian reporting a "very mean person claiming to be an agent from the IRS" — demanding SSN confirmation to steal identity and file fraudulent tax returns |
| Signature Scam — Fake Process Server "Wage and Asset Verification" | Scammers leave voicemails claiming there are "two pending judgments" against you — threatening to contact your HR department to have you served with papers at your job or home, mentioning "wage and asset verification" and citing fake case numbers, pressuring immediate callback to "resolve" legal proceedings that do not exist |
| Signature Scam — AI Grandparent Bail Call | Kanawha County Sheriff's Office specifically warned that AI-generated voice scams are targeting West Virginia seniors — scammers use AI to clone the voice of a grandchild or family member, calling with a "broken" phone line that sounds enough like the real person to deceive even careful listeners, claiming to need bail money for an out-of-state jail |
| Signature Scam — DMV Smishing | The West Virginia AG's Office issued a specific alert warning residents about DMV "smishing" scams — text messages impersonating the West Virginia DMV demanding payment for fake overdue fees or license renewal through suspicious links |
| FEMA Disaster Scam | Following West Virginia flooding events, the AG's Office issued scam alerts about callers posing as FEMA representatives — using 304 numbers to appear local while soliciting personal information or upfront payments for fake disaster assistance |
| Reporting Authority | Report suspicious calls to the WV AG Consumer Protection Division at ago.wv.gov or call 304-558-8986; report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; for SSA scams, contact the SSA OIG at 1-800-269-0271 |
| Key Risk Indicator | Medicare calls offering "last chance" back braces or threatening coverage cancellation, SSA callers who become aggressive when questioned, voicemails about pending judgments mentioning wage verification, AI-sounding family members calling about jail bail, or DMV text messages demanding fee payment through links |
| Safety Tip | Do not rely on Caller ID — scammers specifically use 304 and 681 area codes to appear local. If you suspect a scam, do not talk, do not press any buttons — just hang up. Engaging with a scam call can result in even more unwanted calls targeting your number |
What Are the Business Benefits of the 304 Area Code?
| Local Presence | Helps businesses appear local across the entire Mountain State — West Virginia's 304 is the state's original and most recognized area code, instantly conveying genuine local roots to every West Virginia consumer |
|---|---|
| Customer Trust Factor | A local 304 number dramatically increases answer rates vs. unknown out-of-state numbers in tight-knit West Virginia communities where residents are significantly more likely to answer familiar local codes |
| Statewide Coverage | One number covers all 55 counties of West Virginia — from the Eastern Panhandle communities of Martinsburg and Shepherdstown through the capital region of Charleston to the Ohio River cities of Huntington and Parkersburg, and from the Northern Panhandle's Weirton and Wheeling to the Southern Coalfields' Beckley and Bluefield |
| VoIP Compatibility | Easily available for SaaS platforms, call centers, and remote teams serving the West Virginia market |
| Scalability | Covers roughly 7.85 million unique phone numbers across the 304/681 overlay complex — solid long-term availability for the state's relatively stable population |
| Energy Transition Opportunity | West Virginia's ongoing energy economy transition — from coal toward natural gas, hydrogen, and renewable energy — is creating significant new business opportunities for companies willing to invest locally, where a 304 number provides immediate community credibility |
| Marketing Use | Ideal for local SEO, digital ads, and customer outreach across Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Beckley, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Weirton, and surrounding communities |
| Startup Friendly | Cost-effective entry point for healthcare, energy transition, broadband infrastructure, and workforce development businesses targeting West Virginia's federal investment-fueled economic development initiatives |
| Call Routing Flexibility | Can route calls globally while appearing local to West Virginia customers — particularly valuable for energy, healthcare, and government services companies managing statewide operations from a single number |
| Top Industries | Energy (natural gas, coal, emerging hydrogen and renewable sectors), healthcare (WVU Medicine, CAMC Health System, Thomas Health, Cabell Huntington Hospital), higher education (West Virginia University, Marshall University, WVU Tech), chemical manufacturing (Kanawha Valley Chemical Corridor), government services, tourism (New River Gorge National Park, white-water rafting, skiing), agriculture, and aerospace (Lockheed Martin in Fairmont) benefit most from a local 304 presence |
| Use Case Examples | AI receptionist, energy sector support and dispatch lines, healthcare practices and hospital networks, university admissions and affiliated research services, government agency lines, chemical manufacturing support, tourism and outdoor recreation businesses, broadband installation services, and local retail and professional services |
