Area code 703 serves northern Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and parts of Loudoun and Prince William counties. It is one of the original area codes established in 1947 and has been central to the explosive growth of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Due to population and business expansion, 703 was overlaid by area code 571 in 2000. The area is known for its concentration of federal agencies, contractors, and affluent suburbs. 703 remains a prestigious and historically significant code in the region, often associated with established institutions and long-standing businesses.