Portions of west Tennessee have a new area code, 731, to accommodate the area's growing communications needs.  

Effective September 17, 2001, you must dial new area code 731 for calls made to or within the new area code region. Local and expanded local calling rates will not be affected by this change, i.e., BellSouth® Regionserv® service, BellSouth® Area Plus® service.

Area code 731 was introduced on February 12, 2001 in most of west Tennessee, including Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood,  Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion and Weakley Counties.

Area code 901 was retained in the Memphis metropolitan area, including all of Fayette, Shelby and Tipton Counties.

If your area code has changed, you should update your checks, stationery, signage, and any other printed materials that include your area code. Don't forget to notify friends, relatives, and others, paying special attention to those outside the new 731 area code. 

Businesses need to update business cards, invoices, etc., and notify customers, suppliers, and business associates of the new 731 area code.

Whether or not your area code has changed, you may need to reprogram the numbers stored on services like Call Forwarding, Speed Calling, Call Selector, and Call Block. 

Businesses need to update equipment like fax machines, modems, PBX systems (consult your vendor), or telephone equipment with automatic dialing features. Businesses can test their equipment by calling 731 422-0991. 

Wireless customers in the west Tennessee area need to have their cellular phones reprogrammed in order for calls to complete properly. Contact your cellular service vendor for more information.

If you have questions regarding this information call 1 800 964-7941. If you are hearing or speech-impaired and use a TTY,please call 557-6254 (inside Tennessee) or 1 800 251-5325 (outside Tennessee).

Area code 334 was retained by all other customers in the 334 area code region.