Area code 859 – Kentucky
859 has served Kentucky since 2000, split from 606. 563 of its 786 number blocks are allocated (72%). No carrier dominates: AT&T 20.6%, Windstream 13.7%, Other CLEC / VoIP 12.1%. FTC complaints naming a 859 caller ID totalled 603 in the 33 days to 30 October 2026 (171st of 422 ranked codes).
- State
- Kentucky
- In service since
- 2000
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Shares area with
- No overlay
Who holds 859 number blocks
Share of the 563 assigned NXX blocks (71.6% of the 786 possible), across 40 carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers.
- AT&T20.6%
- Windstream18.8%
- Verizon11.2%
- Altafiber10.1%
- Lumen10.1%
- T-Mobile9.8%
- Onvoy9.1%
- Other CLEC / VoIP4.8%
- Charter2.8%
- Peerless0.5%
- Bandwidth0.5%
- Telnyx0.5%
- Spok0.4%
- Vonage0.2%
- Dish0.2%
- Comcast0.2%
- Twilio0.2%
Spam complaints naming 859
FTC Do Not Call complaints where the caller ID was a 859 number, 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026 (33 days). Caller IDs on spam calls are frequently spoofed, so these are complaints about the code, not calls proven to originate in it.
Rate centers in 859
NANPA allocates number blocks to rate centers and records their names abbreviated to ten characters, so these are NANPA's codes rather than place names – CHAMPAURBN is Champaign-Urbana, NWYRCYZN01 is a New York City zone. We show them unchanged instead of guessing at the full names. Showing the largest 5 of 42.
Timeline
- 2000 859 goes into service, split from or overlaid on 606.
More about 859
Separate pages for the questions that need their own answer: what time it is there, what the complaint data says, who holds the number blocks, and how the code compares with the one it shares its area with.
Frequently asked about 859
What state is area code 859?
Kentucky.
Is a call from 859 a scam?
Not by itself. 859 drew 603 FTC complaints in the 33 days to 30 October 2026, 171st of 422 ranked codes – mid-pack or lower. Spam callers spoof caller IDs, so the only useful check is the full number.
Which carrier owns 859 numbers?
AT&T holds the largest share of assigned number blocks at 20.6%. The rest is spread across 3 other carriers. This is share of number blocks, not of subscribers – people keep their numbers when they switch carriers.
Do I need to dial 10 digits in 859?
Yes – ten digits for local calls in 859, because it shares its area with another code.
Sources and verification
- NANPA – NPA Database (npa_report.csv), file date 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- NANPA – CO Code Assignment Records, All States (utilized), file updated 11/01/2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- FTC – Do Not Call Reported Calls Data, 25 daily files 28 Sep – 30 Oct 2026, retrieved Nov 1, 2026
NANPA dialing note for this code: “10D”. Reviewed by the data desk. Spotted an error? Request a correction.