The 904 Area Code: Best Guide to the First Coast of Florida

The 904 area code is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan for most of the First Coast (northeast) region of the U.S. state of Florida. The numbering plan area comprises most of the metropolitan area of Jacksonville new area code. It includes all of Duval County, St. Johns County, Nassau County, and Baker County, and almost all of Clay County.

The 904 area code was created in 1965 as a split from the original 305 area code that covered the entire state of Florida. Since then, it has undergone several changes and reductions as new area codes were introduced to accommodate the growing population and demand for phone numbers. The most recent change was in 1997, when the western part of the 904 area code was assigned to the new 850 area code.

What state is area code 904 covers a diverse and dynamic region that offers a variety of attractions and activities for residents and visitors alike. Some of the highlights include:

• Jacksonville, the largest city by area in the contiguous United States and the most populous city in Florida. Jacksonville is a major economic and cultural center that boasts a vibrant downtown, a scenic riverfront, a rich history, a diverse arts and entertainment scene, and numerous sports and recreational opportunities.
• St. Augustine, the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States and a designated National Historic Landmark District. St. Augustine is a popular tourist destination that features many historic sites, museums, monuments, and landmarks that reflect its Spanish colonial heritage.
• Amelia Island, a barrier island off the coast of Nassau County that is known for its pristine beaches, natural beauty, and charming historic district. Amelia Island is home to several upscale resorts, golf courses, spas, and restaurants, as well as the annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, a prestigious classic car show.
• Orange Park, a suburban town in Clay County that is adjacent to Jacksonville’s southern border. Orange Park is a family-friendly community that offers a variety of parks, trails, shopping centers, and restaurants, as well as access to the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake.

The 904 area code is expected to run out of available phone numbers by 2024 due to the increasing demand for wireless devices and services. To address this issue, the Florida Public Service Commission has approved the addition of a new overlay area code, 324, that will serve the same geographic area as the existing 904 area code. This means that starting from October 2023, all calls within and between the 904 and 324 area codes will require 10-digit dialing (area code + seven-digit number).

The 904 area code is more than just a set of digits; it is a symbol of identity and pride for the people who live and work in this region. The 904 area code represents the First Coast of Florida, a unique and vibrant place that combines history, culture, nature, and innovation.

There are different ways to get a phone number with the 904 area code, depending on your needs and preferences. Here are some of the common methods:

• You could buy a phone in Jacksonville, Florida, or any other location that uses the 904 area code. Like fernandina beach, johns county, northeast florida, jacksonville beach and including including jacksonville all share the same time zone and local phone numbers. This way, your number will be assigned to that area code by default.
• You could use a virtual phone service like OpenPhone, Burner, Textr, or JustCall that allows you to choose a local number from any area code you want. These services let you make and receive calls and texts from your existing device using an app or a web browser. They also offer various features like voicemail, call forwarding, auto-reply, and more.
• You could contact your phone carrier and request a change of your area code. This may incur some fees and require you to update your contacts with your new number. You may also lose some of your existing features or benefits depending on your plan and provider.

The cost of changing your area code may vary depending on your phone carrier and the method you choose. Here are some possible scenarios:

• If you buy a new phone in a different area code, you may get a new number with that area code for free or for a small activation fee.
• If you use a virtual phone service, you may be able to choose a number with any area code you want for a monthly or annual fee.
• If you contact your phone carrier and request a change of your area code, you may incur some fees and lose some of your existing features or benefits. For example, T-Mobile charges a $15 fee to change your number and will delete all of your voicemail messages. AT&T charges a $36 fee to change your number and also removes access to old voicemails. Verizon doesn’t have any fees, but you may need to update your contacts with your new number.

You should also consider the impact of changing your area code on your calling plan and rates. Some carriers may charge you differently for local and long-distance calls depending on your area code. You should check with your carrier before making any changes to avoid any surprises on your bill.

Additionally, if you live in an area that has transitioned to 10-digit dialing due to the addition of new area codes or the implementation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, you will need to dial the area code + seven-digit number for all calls, even if they are local. This may affect some of your devices or services that are programmed to dial only seven digits, such as alarm systems, fax machines, speed dialers, etc. You will need to reprogram them to use 10-digit dialing as well.