North American Numbers Source-cited · ownership disclosed
Area code
859
In service
United States · since 2000

Lexington / Northern Kentucky

Created in 1999 by splitting from 606, area code 859 serves the Lexington area and Northern Kentucky. The digits were chosen because 859 spells "UKY" (University of Kentucky) on a phone keypad.

The essentials Numbering data · NumberResearch · as of 2026-09-18
Place
Lexington / Northern Kentucky
Type
geographic
Status
in service
In service since
2000
Projected exhaust
2059 Q2

Status, dates and counts are read from NumberResearch (NANPA / CNAC / FCC records). Assignment records show initial assignees, not the carrier serving a number today.

A · Where it is

Where 859 is

Central Kentucky (Bluegrass) and Northern Kentucky, covering 19 counties including Fayette, Boone, Campbell and Kenton..

Communities served wholly or partly by 859:

LexingtonCovingtonFlorenceRichmondNicholasvilleDanvilleVersaillesWinchesterMount Sterling
B · Relationships

How it relates to other codes

The codes 859 was split from, spawned, or shares its area with. A split divides the map and changes some numbers; an overlay shares the same ground and changes none — what's the difference?

Split from · 1999 606 Eastern Kentucky Split from 606 in 1999; 606 retained by rural eastern Kentucky.
Related · 1999 502 Louisville / Frankfort Adjacent to the west (Louisville / Frankfort).
What's changing. No overlay; central office codes not projected to deplete until approximately 2047.
C · History

How 859 got here

1999
Established via split from 606; digits chosen to spell "UKY" for the University of Kentucky.
Source: Wikipedia
2021-10
Transitioned to ten-digit dialing due to the national 988 suicide-prevention designation.
Source: Wikipedia
D · Capacity

How full it is

Prefixes assigned
577
Prefixes available
223
Thousands-blocks assigned
2,494

Prefix-assignment counts describe allocation to carriers, not how many individual numbers are in use. Full technical records: NumberResearch ↗.

Compare 859 with another code →
Sources
Wikipedia ↗
Area code 859
NumberResearch.org ↗
Live status, dates, assignment counts and exhaust forecast — data as of 2026-09-18 (CC BY 4.0).

Place, relationships and history above are compiled by North American Numbers from the sources listed and last checked 2026-09-18. A check date is not an expert review — see how this is made. Flag an error.