---
title: "Area code 251: Alabama, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/251.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/251"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 251 serves Alabama, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Alabama."
---

# Area code 251: Alabama, United States

Area code 251 serves Alabama, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Alabama.

NANPA lists 526 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 251, held by 46 holders across 42 rate centers.
The largest rate center is MOBILE, with 232 prefixes (44%).
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 87 (17%). 75% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 1,351 complaints on file for 1,142 numbers in 251, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 2001-06-18
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 526
- Pooled prefixes: 394 (75%)
- Rate centers: 42
- Companies holding prefixes: 46
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-01-03 to 2026-01-09 (289 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 68

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MOBILE | 232 | 44% |
| FOLEY | 72 | 14% |
| ATMORE | 16 | 3% |
| JACKSON | 15 | 3% |
| FAIRHOPE | 14 | 3% |
| BAYMINETTE | 13 | 2% |
| BREWTON | 12 | 2% |
| EVERGREEN | 10 | 2% |
| 34 other rate centers | 142 | 27% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Central Bell Tel | 87 | 17% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 71 | 13% |
| Onvoy | 66 | 13% |
| Verizon Wireless | 38 | 7% |
| Brightspeed Of Southern Alabama | 29 | 6% |
| Eliska Wireless Ventures Subsidiary I | 29 | 6% |
| 40 other carriers | 206 | 39% |

A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company.

## History

- 1995-01-15: Area code 334, named as the parent of 251 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2001-06-18: Area code 251 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 251, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 228 (about 64 miles), 448 (about 113 miles), 850 (about 118 miles), 334 (about 128 miles) and 601 (about 133 miles).

## ZIP codes

68 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Mobile, AL (34 ZIP codes), Atmore, AL (3 ZIP codes) and Brewton, AL (2 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes.

## Complaints on file

1,351 complaints for 1,142 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 80
- 2024: 79
- 2025: 87

## Questions

### Where is area code 251?

NANPA assigns area code 251 to Alabama, United States.

### In which state does area code 251 sit?

Alabama. 251 is one of 7 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 251 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 251 are Mobile, AL, Atmore, AL and Brewton, AL. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 251?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 251, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 87 prefixes or 17%.

### Which time zone does 251 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 251 as Central (C).

### What year did 251 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2001-06-18, so 251 has been in use since 2001.

### Does area code 251 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 251.

### Which area codes are nearest to 251?

The area codes closest to 251, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 228 (about 64 miles), 448 (about 113 miles), 850 (about 118 miles), 334 (about 128 miles) and 601 (about 133 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 251 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 526 prefixes in service in 251, spread over 42 rate centers and 46 holders.

### Are there complaints about 251 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 1,351 complaints for 1,142 numbers in 251. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).