The 209 area code serves the northern San Joaquin Valley in central California. Stockton and Modesto are its largest cities. If you got a call from a 209 number, this guide shows where it is, what time it is there, how the code started and how to handle calls you do not recognize.
209 Area Code Quick Facts
| State | California |
| Location | Northern San Joaquin Valley and central Sierra foothills: Stockton, Modesto, Merced |
| Time zone | Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 during daylight saving time) |
| In service since | 1958 |
| Type | Geographic area code with an overlay |
| Shares its area with | 350 |
| Toll-free? | No, it is a regular geographic area code |
Check any other code with our free area code lookup tool.
Where Is the 209 Area Code Located?
Area code 209 runs through the farm country east of the San Francisco Bay Area and up into the Sierra Nevada foothills. Main cities include:
- Stockton
- Modesto
- Merced
- Tracy
- Lodi
- Manteca
- Turlock
It also covers smaller Gold Country towns such as Sonora and Jackson.
What Time Zone Is the 209 Area Code In?
Stockton is on Pacific Time.
- Pacific Standard Time (PST), UTC-8, in winter
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), UTC-7, from mid March to early November
That puts it three hours behind New York and two hours behind Chicago. Check the clock before you dial, especially if you are several time zones away.
History of the 209 Area Code
209 was created in 1958 from area code 916. At first it covered a much larger part of the Central Valley, including Fresno.
On November 14, 1998 the southern half was split off as area code 559. As 209 numbers ran low, 350 was added as an overlay on November 28, 2022. Both codes now serve the same area, and all calls need ten digits.
How to Dial a 209 Number
You need the area code for every call, even a local one.
- From the US or Canada: 1 + 209 + the seven-digit number
- From another country: your exit code + 1 + 209 + the seven-digit number
Is a Call From 209 a Scam?
Most 209 calls come from real homes and businesses in the Stockton and Modesto area. Like any code, 209 can be spoofed by robocallers who want a number that looks local to you.
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 209 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 209 Phone Number
Want a 209 number of your own? There are a few ways to get one.
- Carriers: ask any major carrier for a Stockton or Modesto number. New lines may be given 350 instead.
- VoIP and virtual number providers: search by area code, pick a 209 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 209
| 350 | Same area as 209 |
| 916, 279 | Sacramento |
| 559 | Fresno and the southern Central Valley |
| 925 | Inland East Bay: Concord, Walnut Creek, Livermore |
| 408, 669 | San Jose |
| 530 | Northern Sierra and upper Sacramento Valley |
Related guides: 916 area code for Sacramento, 559 area code for Fresno, 925 area code for the inland East Bay.
209 Area Code FAQs
What city is area code 209?
Stockton and Modesto are the largest cities. Merced, Tracy, Lodi, Manteca and Turlock also use 209.
Is 209 in Northern or Southern California?
It is in central California, in the northern part of the San Joaquin Valley.
What is the 350 area code?
350 is the overlay for the 209 area. It was added in November 2022 and covers the same cities.
Is 209 a toll-free number?
No. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Final Word
The 209 area code points to Stockton, Modesto and the surrounding valley and foothill towns. If you do not know the caller, let it go to voicemail and check the number before you call back.
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