Area code 573 — Columbia, Missouri

Where is area code 573?

Area code 573 is in Columbia, Missouri, covering Columbia and surrounding communities in Missouri. All 573 numbers are on Central Time.

Is area code 573 a scam?

No. Area code 573 is a legitimate area code serving Columbia since 1996. Scammers spoof caller ID to display 573 numbers, which is why complaints exist against a code that is itself genuine.

Neighbour spoofing is the reason a local-looking number is not a guarantee. A caller anywhere in the world can display a 573 number, and the number they display may belong to a real business in Columbia that has nothing to do with the call.

• ·Area code 573 had 366 different numbers reported for spam calls in the 30 days to 28 July 2026.
• ·Area code 573 ranks 192nd of 331 US geographic area codes by spam complaint volume.
• ·Of the 379 complaints about area code 573 in the 30 days to 28 July 2026, 71% were reported as a recorded message or robocall.
• ·The most reported subject on area code 573 is medical & prescriptions, appearing in 12% of its complaints in the 30 days to 28 July 2026.

What these calls were about

Each figure is that subject’s share of every 573 complaint in the 30 days to 28 July 2026, as categorised by the consumer who reported it.

Businesses can prevent their own numbers from being mistaken for calls like these.

Why am I getting text messages from area code 573?

Texts from 573 numbers follow the same pattern as calls — mostly local businesses and services. Treat any text asking for payment or credentials as suspect regardless of the code.

The common patterns are a wrong-number opener that turns into conversation, an unsolicited job offer, and a crypto or investment tip. Do not reply, do not follow the link, and forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier.

Who works in the Columbia area?

Columbia is a college town that grew into a regional hub. The University of Missouri is the city's defining institution and largest employer, and its hospital system, MU Health Care, anchors a healthcare sector that serves most of mid-Missouri. Insurance is the other pillar: Shelter Insurance and Veterans United Home Loans are both headquartered in the city, and State Farm runs a large operation there. The university's research parks and journalism school feed a small but steady stream of startups and media ventures into the local economy.

Who lives in the 573 region

The population tells a college-town story. Columbia held 128,548 people in 2024 with a median age of 29.5, one of the youngest of any city its size in the region (Census ACS via Data USA). Median household income was $66,498. About 8 percent of residents were born abroad, many connected to the university, and no single non-English language reaches a large share of households, though Chinese and Spanish speakers form the most visible communities. The student cycle shapes everything: tens of thousands of people arrive each August and leave each May.

What a 573 number signals to a caller

Area code 573 covers a huge sweep of eastern and southern Missouri outside the St. Louis metro, from Columbia and Jefferson City down to the Bootheel, so the number reads as broadly mid-Missouri rather than city-specific. Callers describe business conduct in Columbia, Missouri as informal and quick to first names, but appointments are kept and university procurement runs on rigid fiscal-year timelines worth learning before you pitch.

Questions