The 201 area code covers the northeastern corner of New Jersey, right across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne and Hackensack are all in it. It shares the area with 551.
201 also has a place in telephone history. This guide covers that, along with the location, time zone and advice on unknown 201 calls.
201 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | New Jersey |
| Location | Hudson and Bergen counties in northeastern New Jersey |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | 1947 |
| Type | Original geographic area code |
| Shares its area with | 551 (overlay since December 1, 2001) |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other code with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 201 Area Code Located?
Area code 201 is located in Hudson County and Bergen County, New Jersey. Main cities and towns:
- Jersey City
- Hoboken
- Bayonne
- Hackensack
- Secaucus
- Englewood
Newark is not in 201. It uses 973 and 862.
What Time Zone Is the 201 Area Code In?
Jersey City is on Eastern Time.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC-5, in winter
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC-4, from mid March to early November
That makes it three hours ahead of Los Angeles and one hour ahead of Chicago. Check the clock before you dial, especially if you are several time zones away.
History of the 201 Area Code
- 1947: 201 is created for the whole state of New Jersey.
- 1956: southern New Jersey moves to 609.
- June 8, 1991: north-central New Jersey is split off as 908.
- June 1, 1997: Essex, Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties move to 973.
- December 1, 2001: 551 is added as an overlay, and ten-digit dialing becomes mandatory in northern New Jersey.
The First Area Code
When AT&T drew up the original list of 86 area codes in 1947, 201 was the first one on it. New Jersey was also the site of another milestone. In 1951, the first direct-dialed transcontinental call was placed from Englewood, New Jersey to Alameda, California. Before that, long-distance calls had to be connected by an operator.
How to Dial a 201 Number
You need the area code for every call, even a local one.
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 201 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 201 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 201 a Scam?
A 201 number usually belongs to someone in Hudson or Bergen County. Many financial, shipping and media companies have offices on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, so business calls from 201 are routine.
Watch for these warning signs:
- Threats of arrest, a lawsuit or a service shut-off unless you pay today
- Offers of a prize, a loan or a job that need a fee first
- Callers who already know part of your details and ask you to “confirm” the rest
- One-ring calls that try to make you call back
Caller ID can be spoofed, so the number on your screen does not prove where a call comes from.
What to do with an unknown 201 call
- Do not answer numbers you do not know.
- Never share a PIN, password or passcode with someone who called you.
- Block repeat callers and turn on your carrier spam filter.
- Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov and register at donotcall.gov.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
How to Get a 201 Phone Number
Want a 201 number of your own? There are a few ways to get one.
- Carriers: new lines in the area receive 201 or 551 depending on availability.
- VoIP and virtual number providers: search by area code, pick a 201 number and forward calls to any phone.
- Toll-free numbers: a better fit if your customers are spread across the country.
Read our guides to virtual phone numbers and the 833 area code.
Area Codes Near 201
| 551 | Same area as 201 |
| 973, 862 | Newark, Paterson |
| 908 | Elizabeth, Plainfield |
| 212, 646, 332 | Manhattan |
| 845, 329 | Rockland County and the Hudson Valley, New York |
Related guides: 332 area code for Manhattan, 646 area code for Manhattan, 267 area code for Philadelphia.
201 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 201?
Jersey City is the largest. Hoboken, Bayonne, Hackensack, Secaucus and Englewood are also in 201.
Is 201 New York or New Jersey?
New Jersey. It is directly across the river from New York City.
What is area code 551?
It is the overlay for the 201 area and has been in service since December 1, 2001.
What time zone is 201?
Eastern Time.
Is 201 a toll-free number?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Final Word
The 201 area code covers Hudson and Bergen counties in New Jersey on Eastern Time. It dates from 1947 and shares its area with 551. As with any number, verify an unknown caller before you share anything.
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