Area code
Area code 251 — Mobile, AL
Alabama · in service since June 18, 2001
Area code 251 covers parts of Alabama; the place with the most of its prefixes is Mobile. It was created from area code 334 on June 18, 2001 and no other code overlays it.
Local time in Mobile
Spam reports from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026
Average #229 of 461 codes
398 FTC complaints
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC.
See the reports- Time zoneCentral Time
- Local calls10 digits
- Prefixes543 assigned
- Runs out~1Q 2039
- Unwanted call?Block & report
Spam call reports about 251 numbers
Complaints by week
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026Show as table
| Week starting | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Sep 7 (3 days) | 25 |
| Sep 14 | 122 |
| Sep 21 | 107 |
| Sep 28 | 73 |
| Oct 5 | 87 |
| Oct 12 | 74 |
| Oct 19 (4 days) | 100 |
Compared with all codes
- Robocalls
- 71%all codes 75%
- Callers with the same code
- 36%all codes 35%
- Rank by complaints
- #229of 461 · middle half
- FCC complaints, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026
- 11011 about text messages
What the calls were about
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| Subject | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing your debt (credit cards, mortgage, student loans) | 202 34% | |
| Dropped call or no message | 47 8% | |
| Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends | 33 6% | |
| Medical & prescriptions | 30 5% | |
| Warranties & protection plans | 15 3% | |
| Lotteries, prizes & sweepstakes | 7 1% |
Where the people who complained live
Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026
| State | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 238 40% | |
| Florida | 35 6% | |
| Texas | 29 5% | |
| New York | 24 4% | |
| California | 22 4% |
October 2026 (partial) report · most reported
Consumer reports, not verified by the FTC · source
Source: FTC Do Not Call complaints created Sep 11 – Oct 22, 2026. They are reported by consumers and are not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed (how we count).
Source: FCC Consumer Complaints data, unwanted calls filed Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026, by caller ID; not verified by the FCC.
Area code 251 location and prefixes
| Exchange (NANPA) | Place | County | Prefixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOBILE | Mobile | Mobile County | 233 |
| FOLEY | Foley | Baldwin County | 73 |
| ATMORE | Atmore | Escambia County | 16 |
| JACKSON | Jackson | Clarke County | 15 |
| FAIRHOPE | Fairhope | Baldwin County | 14 |
| BAYMINETTE | Bay Minette | Baldwin County | 13 |
| BREWTON | Brewton | Escambia County | 12 |
| EVERGREEN | Evergreen | Conecuh County | 10 |
| MCINTOSH | McIntosh | Washington County | 10 |
| BELLEFONTN | Belle Fontaine | Mobile County | 8 |
Plus 32 smaller exchange areas.
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026; places: U.S. Census Bureau, matched by DialWhere (how).
Is 251 running out of numbers?
Previous forecast (October 2025): 2038, moved later by 1 year.
Forecast exhaust year by edition
Source: NANPA NRUF forecast, April 2026 edition.
Who holds 251 prefixes
The five largest of 49 original holders
As listed by NANPA, not today’s carrier.
| Holder (as listed) | Prefixes | |
|---|---|---|
| South Central Bell Tel | 88 16% | |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC | 72 13% | |
| Onvoy, LLC | 66 12% | |
| Verizon Wireless | 38 7% | |
| Brightspeed Of Southern Alabama | 29 5% |
Source: NANPA CO codes of Oct 23, 2026.
Questions about area code 251
What area code is 251?
An Alabama area code, in service since June 18, 2001.
Where is 251 area code, and what time zone is it in?
Mobile, AL; Central Time.
Why am I getting spam calls from 251?
398 FTC complaints from Sep 23 – Oct 22, 2026, most often about debt reduction (not verified by the FTC; caller ID can be spoofed).
Will 251 get a new area code?
NANPA forecasts exhaust in 1Q 2039; no relief planning listed.