201 area code — Hackensack, NJ geographic
- State
- New Jersey
- Major area
- Hackensack
- Time zone
- Eastern
- In service since
- 1947-01-01
- Overlay complex
- 201 / 551
- Active prefixes
- 778
- Rate centers
- 27
- Carriers
- 33
- Projected exhaust
- 2Q 2048
Area code 201 is a geographic code serving Hackensack, New Jersey in the Eastern time zone. It has been in service since January 1, 1947. The same territory is also served by its overlay code (201/551 complex). Keep in mind the code identifies where the number was registered; the person calling may be elsewhere.
The code currently holds 778 working prefixes, held by 33 different carriers. Of these, 487 are pooled prefixes shared by multiple carriers. Numbers are anchored to 27 rate centers — billing localities that fix where each prefix belongs.
As demand grew it in turn gave rise to 609 (1957), 908 (1990), 973 (1997), 551 (2001).
The current NANPA exhaust forecast for the 201/551 complex is 2Q 2048.
Local calls inside 201 are dialed 10D; calls between the 551 and 201 npas may be dialed as 10d. 1+10 digit permissible at service provider discretion..
Worth noting: 201 is the oldest area code in New Jersey, in service since 1947.
Practical takeaway: the 201 label narrows geography to New Jersey, the prefix narrows it to a locality, and neither authenticates a caller. Verification means calling back through a number you found yourself.
Largest localities in 201
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Hackensack | 160 | 551 |
| Jersey City | 137 | 551 |
| Union City | 54 | 551 |
| Rutherford | 39 | 551 |
| Ramsey | 30 | 551 |
| Fair Lawn | 28 | 551 |
| Oradell | 26 | 551 |
| Cliffside | 25 | 551 |
| Teaneck | 23 | 551 |
| Morristown | 22 | 862, 973 |
FAQ
Is 201 a toll-free number?
No. 201 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Why do 551 and 201 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 201/551 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 201 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 2Q 2048 — decades of capacity remain.
Why am I getting spam calls from 201 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 201 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 201 number from?
201 is assigned to Hackensack and surrounding areas of New Jersey in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.