Area Code 251
Alabama
Area code 251 serves Alabama, primarily Mobile, in the Central Time (CT) time zone. It was created from a split of area code 334.
Published: Last reviewed: Verified against NANPA and FCC records
Split Area Code
This area code exists because its parent region ran low on available numbers: the parent territory was divided geographically, this code took over one part of it, and the parent kept serving the rest. Existing customers generally keep their numbers — only the code changes for the newly drawn region.
This area code was split from area code 334 (Montgomery).
In service since: 18-Jun-2001
Demographics & Economics
- Total Population
- 864,231
- Population Density
- 63 people/sq mibelow U.S. average (U.S.: 95 people/sq mi)
- Median Household Income
- $58,880below U.S. median (U.S.: $80,734)
- Poverty Rate
- 15.6%above U.S. average (U.S.: 12.5%)
- Unemployment Rate
- 5.4%near U.S. average (U.S.: 5.2%)
- Education Attainment
- Bachelor's Degree+25.5%below U.S. average (U.S.: 35.7%)High School or Lower36.8%
Statistics are population-weighted aggregations from Census ACS 5-year estimates. Population figures are approximate — see Sources & Methodology for details on how area code populations are derived.
See how this area code compares to all US area codes in the income ranking and density ranking.
Time Zone
- Central Time (CT)
NANPA Relief Status
According to the latest NANPA analysis (July 2026), this area code is not currently listed as exhausting within the next 36 months. No relief planning is in progress for this NPA.
Source: NANPA NPA Relief Planning Reports · See all relief planning statuses
Current Time
Prefix Utilization
Geographic Coverage
State
AL
Major Cities
- Mobile
- Daphne
- Fairhope
- Foley
- Prichard
- Tillmans Corner
- Saraland
- Gulf Shores
- Spanish Fort
- Atmore
- Orange Beach
- Bay Minette
- Robertsdale
- Satsuma
- Chickasaw
- Monroeville
- Semmes
- Brewton
- Theodore
- Jackson
- Loxley
- Citronelle
- Grand Bay
- Evergreen
and 59 more cities
Historical Timeline of Area Code 251
Area code 251 was activated on June 18, 2001, as the 300th area code in the North American Numbering Plan. Created via a geographic split from area code 334, it relieved prefix exhaustion in southwestern Alabama where only 155 of 800 central office codes remained by April 2000. Source: NANPA
Key milestones:
- 1947: Alabama assigned its original area code 205 as part of the initial North American Numbering Plan
- 1995: Area code 334 created via split from 205, covering southern Alabama including Mobile
- 2000: By April, only 155 of 800 prefixes remained in 334. The Alabama PSC unanimously approved the 334/251 split on October 3 (Verizon Communications)
- 2001: NANPA issued PL-254 on January 2. Area code 251 activated June 18 with a six-month permissive dialing period (NANPA)
- 2002: Mandatory 251 dialing began January 7. Existing 334 numbers in the region were grandfathered
- 2021: Mandatory 10-digit dialing took effect October 24, required by FCC Order FCC 20-100 to support the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Alabama PSC)
Area code 251 was the last area code in Alabama to transition from 7-digit to 10-digit local dialing. It serves the Mobile metropolitan area and surrounding counties in southwestern Alabama.
FCC Regulatory History
FCC Order FCC 20-100 (2020) required area code 251 to transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing by October 2021 because the 988 central office code was already assigned in the 251 area, conflicting with the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The code's regulatory history also includes the Alabama PSC's original 2000 approval of the 334/251 geographic split. Source: Alabama PSC
| Year | Event | Docket | Regulatory Action & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 334/251 Split Approval | Alabama PSC | Alabama PSC unanimously approved (3-0) the geographic split of 334 to create 251 covering southwestern Alabama, after finding only 155 of 800 central office prefixes remained (Verizon Communications |
| 2001 | NANPA Planning Letter | PL-254 | NANPA formally notified the industry of the 334/251 split with a June 18, 2001 implementation date and six-month permissive dialing period NANPA |
| 2020 | FCC 988 Lifeline Order | FCC 20-100 | FCC approved 988 as the 3-digit abbreviated dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Area code 251 was required to transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing because 988 was already assigned as a central office code in the 251 area Alabama PSC Fact Sheet |
| 2021 | Mandatory 10-Digit Dialing | Alabama PSC | Alabama PSC announced mandatory 10-digit dialing for area code 251 beginning October 24, 2021, with permissive dialing from April 24, 2021. Area code 334 was not affected because 988 was unassigned there Alabama PSC Press Release |
County Coverage
Population-weighted county share based on aggregated ZCTA population (100% = total mapped population for area code 251).
| County | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | 413,829 | 47.9% |
| Baldwin, AL | 255,936 | 29.6% |
| Conecuh, AL | 53,827 | 6.2% |
| Escambia, AL | 47,386 | 5.5% |
| Monroe, AL | 45,564 | 5.3% |
| Washington, AL | 24,127 | 2.8% |
| Clarke, AL | 14,726 | 1.7% |
| Choctaw, AL | 8,000 | 0.9% |
| Wilcox, AL | 836 | 0.1% |
Area Code 251 Family Tree
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Area code 251 was originally assigned in 18-Jun-2001 to serve AL.
Call Context
This area code spans a mix of urban centers and rural communities across AL, with Mobile as a primary city.
Nearby Area Codes
Area codes geographically closest to 251.
Other Area Codes in Alabama
Area codes that also serve Alabama, linked for easy comparison.