Area code 803 serves central South Carolina, including Columbia (the state capital), Rock Hill, Sumter, and Aiken. It was one of the original area codes established in 1947 and originally covered the entire state before being split into 864 and 843. In 2020, area code 839 was added as an overlay to accommodate continued growth, making ten-digit dialing mandatory. The 803 area includes a mix of government, education, and manufacturing centers. It remains a prominent and historic code for South Carolina and is strongly associated with the heart of the state.