What Is Area Code 201? (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Area code 201 covers Jersey City and surrounding areas in New Jersey. It is one of the original 86 area codes established by AT&T in 1947. Today it shares its territory with overlay code 551. For the full picture, see all New Jersey area codes.

History of Area Code 201

Area code 201 is one of the 86 original area codes created by AT&T in 1947, when the first nationwide numbering plan went into effect on January 1 of that year. It was assigned to New Jersey as part of the initial map that divided the United States and Canada into geographic dialing regions.

Since its activation, the geographic area covered by 201 has been reshaped by the following splits:

• 1956 — area code 609 split off to cover the southern half of New Jersey, from Trenton south through the Pine Barrens, the Jersey Shore, and the Delaware Valley suburbs
• 1991 — area code 908 split off to cover central and northwestern New Jersey, including the Raritan Valley and the area west of Newark
• 1997 — area code 973 split off to cover north-central New Jersey, including Newark, the Oranges, and most of Essex, Passaic, and Morris counties — on June 1, 1997

Overlay codes have been added to the same geographic territory in:

• 2001 — area code 551 activated as an overlay

Cities and Areas Served by 201

Area code 201 serves Hudson County and the southern portion of Bergen County, immediately across the Hudson River from Manhattan, including the following cities and communities:

• Jersey City
• Hoboken
• Bayonne
• Union City
• Hackensack
• Paramus
• Fort Lee
• Englewood
• Teaneck
• Fair Lawn
• Weehawken

Nearby area codes covering the same broader region include: 551, 973, 862, 908, 732, 848, 609.

Overlay Codes 201

Area code 551 shares the same geographic territory as 201 (added in 2001). New phone numbers in the region may be assigned either code.

Because multiple area codes serve the same area, ten-digit dialing is mandatory for all local calls. A call from any of these codes originates from the same geographic region in New Jersey.

The Cultural Weight of a 201 Number

Area code 201 carries the unusual distinction of being the first numbering plan area ever assigned in the North American Numbering Plan — the very first three digits, the lowest legitimate area code in the system, assigned to New Jersey when AT&T rolled out direct distance dialing in October 1947. The first long-distance call ever made using DDD, on November 10, 1951, was placed by Mayor M. Leslie Denning of Englewood, New Jersey to Mayor Frank Osborne of Alameda, California — a 201-to-510 call by today’s numbering, demonstrating the new system’s coast-to-coast reach. 201 originally covered the entire state of New Jersey, and was progressively reduced over three splits: in 1956 the southern half became 609; in 1991 central and northwestern New Jersey became 908; and in 1997 north-central New Jersey, including Newark and the densely-populated Essex County corridor, became 973. After the 1997 split 201 was left with Hudson County and the southern, denser portion of Bergen County — the New Jersey side of the Hudson, immediately opposite Manhattan.

The cultural identity of 201 is bound up with the geography it now serves: the Hudson waterfront cities of Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, and Union City, along with the closer Bergen County suburbs. These are communities physically separated from Manhattan only by the Hudson River, with PATH train access into the city in under fifteen minutes and a residential demographic that includes large numbers of people who work in Manhattan and sleep in 201 territory. After the 2001 overlay activation of 551 (December 29, 2001), the 201/551 pair has handled the entire numbering needs of the region; New Jersey now has ten area codes total, of which 201 is the historical anchor and the most prestigious for businesses signaling NYC-adjacency without paying Manhattan rent.

How to Get a Phone Number with Area Code 201

There are three ways to get a phone number with the 201 area code, each suited to a different need:

1. Buy from a premium-number specialist. Companies that hold curated inventories of specific area codes can sell you a 201 number directly, often with a one-time fee and ownership transferred to you (no recurring carrier fees). This is the option for picking a specific memorable number, or for getting an area code that most carriers won’t let you request. Browse our 201 inventory.
2. Sign up with a VoIP carrier. Voice-over-IP services (such as Google Voice, OpenPhone, Grasshopper, and many others) can typically provision a 201 number on request, especially for active overlay codes. You won’t usually get to pick the specific number, but you’ll get a working line in the area code. This is the cheapest option for anyone who doesn’t need a particular number.
3. Port an existing 201 number. If you already have a 201 phone number with another carrier, you can transfer it (port it) to a new service provider while keeping the number. This works for landlines, cell phones, and VoIP services, though landlines outside of New Jersey sometimes can’t accept inbound ports of 201 numbers due to 911 routing rules.

Looking for a 201 number? 212areacode.com offers premium 201 numbers for Jersey City, New Jersey — choose your number, port it to any carrier in 3–5 business days, and pay a one-time fee with no monthly charges. Browse available 201 numbers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 201 area code still in use?
Yes. 201 is actively assigned to new phone lines in Hudson County and the southern portion of Bergen County, immediately across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

What is the difference between 201 and 551?
Today they share the same geographic territory in New Jersey. New phone lines in the area may be assigned either code. The two codes work identically for calling, billing, and service.

Can I get a 201 number if I don't live in New Jersey?
Yes. Phone numbers are no longer tied to a physical address. With VoIP service or a number broker, you can hold a 201 number from anywhere in the world. The number routes to whatever device or carrier you specify.

Is 201 a scam area code?
No. 201 is a legitimate, active area code for Hudson County and the southern portion of Bergen County, immediately across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Like any area code, scammers occasionally spoof 201 caller IDs, but the code itself is heavily used by real New Jersey businesses, government offices, and residents.

Why is 201 the first area code?
When AT&T designed the original 1947 numbering plan, they assigned area codes in approximate order of switching center importance and number capacity needs. New Jersey, dense and with heavy NYC-adjacent traffic, received 201 as the first NPA in the system. New York City received 212 as the second, Washington DC 202 as the third.

What's the difference between 201 and 551?
551 is the overlay code for the same territory — Hudson County and southern Bergen County. Both serve the exact same geography; calls between them are local. 201 dates to 1947, 551 to December 2001.

Related Reading

• Why the Right Area Code Matters
• Who Invented Area Codes?
• Area Code 732: Toms River, New Jersey Coverage & History