Area code 209: where it is and who calls from it
Area code 209 is in California.
Part of central California (Stockton, Modesto, and Merced, extending into central Yosemite National Park)
| Where | California |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Pacific Time ยท local time |
| In service since | 1958 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 350 |
| Prefixes assigned | 784 of 792 possible (99%) |
Overlay: 209 covers the same area as 350. Overlay areas use 10-digit dialing, so a seven-digit number alone won't connect, and neighbors can have different area codes.
Where 209 numbers started
Every prefix is assigned to a rate center, the local calling area it was set up in. These are the biggest in 209, with how many prefixes each has.
Who holds 209 numbers
- Mobile carrier 38%
- Local phone company 25%
- Internet / business phone carrier 30%
- Paging service 1%
- Phone company 5%
| Carrier | Type | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T (local phone) | Local phone company | 181 | 23% |
| AT&T Mobility | Mobile carrier | 128 | 16% |
| Onvoy | Internet / business phone carrier | 81 | 10% |
| Verizon Wireless | Mobile carrier | 71 | 9% |
| T-Mobile (including Sprint) | Mobile carrier | 69 | 9% |
| Bandwidth | Internet / business phone carrier | 42 | 5% |
| MetroPCS (T-Mobile) | Mobile carrier | 26 | 3% |
| Level 3 (Lumen) | Internet / business phone carrier | 23 | 3% |
| Comcast | Internet / business phone carrier | 18 | 2% |
| Tpx Communications | Internet / business phone carrier | 15 | 2% |
Most prefixes are pooled: the 10,000 numbers in each are handed out in blocks of 1,000 to different carriers, and people can also take their numbers to another carrier. So the carrier shown is where the prefix started, not a guarantee about any one number.
States served: California.
Other area codes in California
213 279 310 323 341 350 357 369 408 415 424 442 510 530 559 562 619 626 628 650 657 661 669 707 714 738 747 760 805 818 820 831 837 840 858 909 916 925 949 951
Got a call from 209?
An area code tells you where a number was first assigned, not where the caller is. People keep their numbers when they move, and scammers can fake any number. If you weren't expecting the call, let it go to voicemail.
If the call shows a 209 number that matches the first six digits of your own, that's often neighbor spoofing. Use the box above to check the full number.
Area code facts from the NANPA area code database (updated 10/06/2026); prefixes and carriers from NANPA's central office code records (updated 2026-10-10). Place description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.