804 Area Code: Richmond VA — Location, Cities & Scam Guide (2026)
Area code 804 covers Richmond and east-central Virginia. Complete guide: 22 counties, Eastern timezone, state capital history, craft beer boom, scam data (top 10 worst for robocalls), and the 686 overlay.
Area code 804 covers Richmond and east-central Virginia — including Henrico, Chesterfield, Petersburg, Mechanicsville, and the Northern Neck region. It serves approximately 1.19 million people in the Eastern Time Zone (ET). The 686 overlay was activated in February 2024, making 10-digit dialing mandatory.
Below: full coverage details, the history of Virginia's area code splits since 1973, Richmond's extraordinary history (state capital since 1780, Confederate capital, civil rights, craft beer boom), real scam data (top 10 worst for robocalls), and common questions.
804 Area Code — Quick Facts
State
Virginia
Major City
Richmond (state capital)
Coverage
~22 counties + independent cities in central VA
Time Zone
Eastern (ET / UTC-5)
Type
Geographic (split from 703)
Introduced
June 24, 1973
Population Served
~1,193,262
Overlay Code
686 (activated February 2024)
Cities in the 804 Area Code
Virginia uses "independent cities" — cities that aren't part of any county. Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights are all independent cities within the 804. The surrounding counties (Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover) contain large unincorporated populations.
| City/Area | County | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | Independent city | 226,610 |
| Henrico (unincorp.) | Henrico | 334,389 |
| Chesterfield (unincorp.) | Chesterfield | 364,548 |
| Mechanicsville | Hanover | 37,498 |
| Petersburg | Independent city | 31,346 |
| Hopewell | Independent city | 22,529 |
| Colonial Heights | Independent city | 17,370 |
| Ashland | Hanover | 7,728 |
| Colonial Beach | Westmoreland | 3,542 |
| West Point | King William | 3,306 |
804 Area Code History
Virginia started with a single area code (703) in 1947. As the state grew, the eastern portion split off as 804 in 1973 — then 804 itself was carved up over the next three decades.
1947 — Original
All of Virginia shares a single area code — 703 covers everything from Arlington to Virginia Beach to the coalfields.
1973 — Split
June 24 — Eastern two-thirds of Virginia splits from 703. Area code 804 covers Richmond, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore, Lynchburg, and Danville.
1996 — Split
July 1 — Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News) and the Eastern Shore split off. 804 loses the coast.
2001 — Split
June 1 — Western portion (Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville) splits off. 804 focuses on Richmond metro + Northern Neck.
2024 — Overlay
February 1 — Area code 686 overlay activated after 804 exhausted available prefixes. 10-digit dialing mandatory. New numbers may be 804 or 686.
Richmond: The City Behind the 804
A City of Two Capitals
Richmond has been the capital of Virginia since 1780 — the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson and modeled after a Roman temple in Nîmes, France, still houses the oldest continuous legislative body in the Western Hemisphere (the Virginia General Assembly, established 1619).
From 1861 to 1865, Richmond also served as the capital of the Confederate States of America. The city's proximity to Washington, D.C. (just 100 miles south) made it a constant military target — the entire last year of the Civil War centered on the siege of Petersburg (within the 804) and the eventual fall of Richmond in April 1865. The city's complex history with slavery, the Confederacy, and subsequent civil rights struggle is now confronted directly through institutions like the American Civil War Museum and the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.
"Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!"
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech at St. John's Church in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood — a speech that galvanized the Virginia Convention to arm the colony against Britain. The church still stands and hosts reenactments. Richmond's connection to the American Revolution runs deep: it was here that Virginia ratified the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The Only Urban Whitewater Rapids in America
Richmond is the only city in the United States with Class III and IV whitewater rapids running through its downtown. The James River drops through a series of falls and rapids right in the middle of the city, creating a unique outdoor recreation scene — kayaking, rafting, and tubing within sight of the downtown skyline. The James River Park System spans 600+ acres along the riverbanks.
Craft Beer Capital of the East Coast
Richmond has over 30 breweries within city limits — one of the highest per-capita concentrations in the country. The Scott's Addition neighborhood alone hosts 10+ breweries, cideries, and meaderies within walking distance.
Notable names include The Veil Brewing Co. (nationally renowned for hazy IPAs), Väsen Brewing (farmhouse ales), and Hardywood Park. Richmond also has a historical claim: in 1935, the first commercially available canned beer in America was sold here by Gottfried Krueger Brewing, distributed through Richmond's market as a test city.
Jackson Ward: "The Black Wall Street"
Richmond's Jackson Ward neighborhood was once known as the "Black Wall Street of America" and the "Harlem of the South" — a thriving hub of African American commerce, culture, and entertainment from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. It was home to the nation's first Black-owned bank (Consolidated Bank and Trust, founded 1903) and produced cultural figures including dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Today the neighborhood is a National Historic Landmark District.
Time Zone & Best Calling Times
The entire 804 area code is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
| Your Time Zone | Best Time to Call 804 | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PT) | 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM your time | +3 hours |
| Central (CT) | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM your time | +1 hour |
| UK (GMT/BST) | 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM your time | -5 hours |
| India (IST) | 6:30 PM – 3:30 AM your time | -9.5 hours |
804 Area Code: Scam & Spam Analysis
Area code 804 is one of the top 10 worst area codes for robocalls in America. Central Virginia residents receive an average of 57 spam calls per month. Virginia State Police have issued multiple warnings about scams targeting 804, 540, and 434 area codes.
Top Spam Call Categories (804)
Common 804 Scam Schemes
- Auto warranty expiration — prerecorded message about your vehicle's warranty ending; press 1 to "extend coverage"
- Social Security "suspension" — Virginia State Police confirmed these target 804 numbers specifically; caller claims arrest warrant issued
- Spoofed police numbers — scammers spoof actual Virginia State Police 804 office numbers to appear official
- Tech support (Apple/Amazon) — claims suspicious activity on your account; asks for remote access or gift card payment
How to Protect Yourself
- Virginia State Police will never call demanding payment or threatening arrest
- The SSA will never threaten to suspend your Social Security number
- No legitimate company asks for payment via gift cards
- If caller ID shows a police number, hang up and call that number back directly
- Report scams to Virginia AG Consumer Protection: 800-552-9963
How to Call an 804 Number
| Calling From | Format |
|---|---|
| Within 804/686 (local) | 804-XXX-XXXX (10-digit mandatory) |
| Another US area code | 1-804-XXX-XXXX |
| Mobile (international) | +1-804-XXX-XXXX |
| Landline from UK | 00-1-804-XXX-XXXX |
| Landline from India | 00-1-804-XXX-XXXX |
| Landline from Australia | 0011-1-804-XXX-XXXX |
Related Area Codes
Virginia area codes that were split from or neighbor 804:
Frequently Asked Questions — 804 Area Code
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