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Have you ever seen a phone number that starts with 351 Area Code and wondered what city or state it was in, or if it has the same Timezone as 978? For over 50 years, the 351 area code represented more than just a string of numbers, it was integrated into northeastern Massachusetts’ telecommunications infrastructure. This guide will explain the entire thing — whether you are a person who does not know it is called local, and business operations in this region, or if you are interested in its history.
Where is the 351 Area Code?
Area code 351 — northeastern Massachusetts, including Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Peabody.
The 351 area code has the same geographic service area as the 978 area code. It covers more than 45 cities in Essex County, Middlesex County, Worcester County and Franklin. The major metropolitan areas in the region include Lowell (for mill yards and the UMass-Amherst campuses), Lawrence (a manufacturing center, primarily in textiles), Haverhill and its nascent tech and creative economy, as well as Peabody’s robust retail/service economy.
Our geographic area is north-central and northeastern Massachusetts; the general focus is for real property in an urban business, but such areas are potentially applicable to smaller suburban towns within the Commonwealth. It can aid residents, in knowing to what extent 351 applies to them for local dialing. It is a must for businesses to target customers in coverage area.
Top Tip: If you run a local business, then advertising your 351 number will show that you are part of the community and help to build trust with customers.
What is the time zone for 351 area code?
Area code 351 is in Massachusetts and covers 52.95 square miles of land area and 5.47 square miles of water area.
The 351 area code, like most of Massachusetts, observes Eastern Time in the Winter and Eastern Daylight Time during the summer. It is 05:00 UTC offset is –Standard time zone of -5 hours and daylight saving adjustment of -4 hours.
This is relevant to making appointments, syncing with consumer support teams and coordinating delivery hours. A call placed from Los Angeles, for example, at 2PM PST will reach a party in 351 territory at 5:00 PM local time.
All national moves including Boston to Worcester movers and Springfield to the Western part of the state are in the same time zone so there is no problem.
351 vs 978 Area Code — Where is the difference?
Background: 351 is an overlay area code in Massachusetts, serving the same geographic investment as area surrounding and overlapping with telephone code +1 978.
A little backstory: Area code 978 was formed in a split from 508 in 1997. The proliferation of cell phones, pagers, and fax lines during the mid-1990s pushed new number demand to its limits by the late 1990s. That was followed in an overlay to 351 on May 2, 2001.
By implementing an overlay, no one would have to adapt their current number; instead any new line would be given either code. Nowadays both 351 and 978 cover the same area in north central and northeast Massachusetts.
The major change involved residents having to use 10-digit dialing for any phone call, not only long-distance ones. This means you will have to dial the area code each time, instead of just seven-digits. And for companies, it meant reprinting anything showing the full flipping numbers — but also more freedom to assign those same numbers.
When was area code 351 established?
Area code 351 went into service on May 2, 2001, as an overlay to relieve number exhaustion within area code 978.
During the early 2000s there was a massive rush in demand for phone numbers, nationwide. The Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable worked with the North American Numbering Plan Administrator to do an overlay so they would not have to break up the area code boundaries–or bring back any confusion and costs should phone companies had to force all their customers in a split region to change numbers.
As of 2001, area code 351 became the sixth area code used in Massachusetts, behind 339, 413, 508, 617 and the immediately adjacent and overlapping formed by part of it neighbouring area code. Other than its introduction the 978 code, the 978 weren’t a new area code in its own right but kept intact all then-existing 978 numbers and provided hundreds of local exchange prefixes for future on-demand activation of new lines.
What cities are 351 area code in?
Cities under area code 351: Lowell | Lawrence | Haverhill | Peabody | Leominster | Methuen | Salem | Beverly | Fitchburg | Gloucester Among others (Northeastern MA)
Communities within the 351 NPA (#2) Area Code
- Lowell: historic mill town, college city.
- Lawrence – It is an industrial city, and it also has a burgeoning Hispanic population, as well.
- Haverhill — Manufacturing & creative economy mix.
- Peabody (Authority for the Peabody Municipal Light Plant) – Centered on retail and dining.
- Leominster – “Pioneer Plastics City” a major manufacturing base.
- Methuen, Salem, Beverly, Fitchburg, Gloucester – all cities but with their own residential and cultural-economic mixes.
These three cities are in Essex, Middlesex, and Worcester counties so as a group they represent a cross-section of the Massachusetts economy and lifestyle. For businesses like marketers and service providers, this potentially means reaching both suburban families and small businesses, in addition to industrial clients.
Methods for Dialing 351-area-code Phones.
Required Service Number dial example:
351 area code — Dial 351-XXX-XXXX instead of omitting the area code. Local calls in this overlay region must be made as 10-digit dialing.
As a result of the 351/978 overlay, seven-digit dialing from some communities is no longer possible. All 10 digits are dialable — even in-town calls.
Dialing tips:
- Make sure you always save contacts with the relevant area code, if not calls will fail.
- Please note that this works for calls from a mobile to another mobile phone as well as between landlines.
For international callers: +1 351 XXX XXXX
This consistency leads to less frequent discontinuity in the connections and is free of confusion when there are multiple overlays at a single state.
Buying a 351 Number
Not in Ohio, but want a local presence? PVAPins can hook you up with an instant 380 virtual number.
How it works:
- Go to PVAPins.com
- Pick the 380 area code
- Choose temporary or rental
- Activate instantly, no SIM needed
Great for businesses targeting Columbus or anyone needing a “local” number for verifications.
If you’re looking to create an Apple ID without a phone number, check out this step-by-step guide: How to Create an facebook ID Without a Phone Number.
Cities in northeastern Massachusetts that are covered by area code 351
The northeastern Massachusetts region served by (351) includes major economies like Lowell and Lawrence, historic coastal towns such as Gloucester and Salem; growing suburbs like Peabody and Methuen. It is a cacophony of industry, tourism and education.
Overlay with 978 in north central Massachusetts
In north central Massachusetts they coexist, 351 and 978. If you live in Leominster, Fitchburg, or Gardner and you called those numbers, they could have either code — meaning that they are essentially interchangeable.
FAQ – 351 Area Code
Where is the 351 Area Code?
This is area in northeastern Massachusetts that includes cities like Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Peabody and Leominster.
351 Is an area code in what time zone EST or EDT?
Yes. The city is in the Eastern (EST) time zone for regular winter and daylight saving (EDT).
How Did Area Code 351 Come About?
In 2001, the 978 area code was established as an overlay to serve the needs of a growing population and islamaphone.com without disturbing existing phone customers in the local area.
Is 351 a unique region than 978?
No. Their service area is identical and there will be 10-digit permissive dialing.
So I have to dial 10 digits for 351 calls?
Yes. The 351/978 Area Code must be used to complete all local and long-distance calls in the area.
When did the 351 area code debut?
May 2, 2001.
What cities are in the 351 area code?
Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Peabody, Leominster … and many more!