nym writes: Charlottesville and the surrounding area, including most counties due south of Albemarle County all the way down to the North Carolina border, is getting a new Area Code, 434, on June 1st. The Washington Post has a small story on it and there is further information available from the Virginia SCC including this map which nicely outlines the affected area. There will be a permissive dialing period until January 15th, 2002 (either area code will work.) After January 15th, 2002 dialing the new area code will be mandatory (you’ll get a recording if you try to dial using 804.)

434 just isn’t a manly area code. How embarassing.