213 Area Code — Downtown Los Angeles: Cities, History & Scam Risk
Area code 213 covers downtown Los Angeles and central LA (Koreatown, Echo Park, Westlake). Overlay codes 323 & 738, full history since 1947, scam risk, timezone, and dialing guide.
The 213 area code is the original Los Angeles area code — one of the first ever created in 1947. Today it serves downtown Los Angelesand the surrounding central LA neighborhoods, including Koreatown, Westlake, Echo Park, and the Arts District. If you've received a call from a 213 number, it's coming from the heart of LA.
213 Area Code at a Glance
Location: Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Year Introduced: 1947 (original)
Overlay Codes: 323, 738
Timezone: Pacific (UTC-8/UTC-7)
Major City: Los Angeles
Metro Population: ~10 million (LA County)
Cities & Communities in the 213 Area Code
The 213/323/738 overlay complex covers central Los Angeles and several adjacent cities. Since the 2017 merger, new numbers with any of these three area codes can be assigned anywhere in this territory.
| City | Population | County |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (Downtown) | 3,898,747 | Los Angeles |
| Glendale | 196,543 | Los Angeles |
| Pasadena | 138,699 | Los Angeles |
| Inglewood | 107,762 | Los Angeles |
| Hawthorne | 88,083 | Los Angeles |
| Alhambra | 82,868 | Los Angeles |
| Montebello | 62,640 | Los Angeles |
| Bell Gardens | 42,072 | Los Angeles |
| Huntington Park | 58,114 | Los Angeles |
| South Gate | 94,396 | Los Angeles |
| Monterey Park | 60,269 | Los Angeles |
| South Pasadena | 25,329 | Los Angeles |
| Maywood | 27,395 | Los Angeles |
| Cudahy | 23,805 | Los Angeles |
| Vernon | 222 | Los Angeles |
| West Hollywood | 35,716 | Los Angeles |
Key neighborhoods within LA city limits: Downtown (DTLA), Koreatown, Westlake, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Hollywood, Boyle Heights, South LA, East LA, Highland Park, Eagle Rock.
History of the 213 Area Code
Area code 213 has one of the most complex histories of any US area code — it has been split five times and overlaid twice since its creation in 1947.
Area code 213 created as one of the original 86 North American area codes. Covered all of Southern California — from San Diego to Bakersfield.
First split: San Diego and Orange County assigned area code 714.
Second split: Northern and western areas (Santa Barbara, Bakersfield) received area code 805.
Third split: San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley received area code 818 — one of the first major city splits in the US.
Fourth split: West Los Angeles and South Bay assigned area code 310.
June 13 — Fifth split created area code 323. Area code 213 retained only downtown LA (exchanges for Downtown, Echo Park, Westlake, Koreatown, Exposition Park).
July 8 — Overlay merger: The boundaries between 213 and 323 were erased. Both codes now serve the same geographic area. 10-digit dialing became mandatory.
November 1 — Area code 738 activated as an additional overlay for the 213/323 region to provide additional number capacity.
Overlay Area Codes
These area codes all share the same geographic territory in central Los Angeles:
| Code | Year | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 213 | 1947 | Original | Original Southern California code — now serves central LA |
| 323 | 1998 | Split → Overlay | Split from 213, merged back as overlay in 2017 |
| 738 | 2024 | Overlay | Newest overlay — activated November 2024 for additional capacity |
Adjacent Area Codes
818
San Fernando Valley (Burbank, North Hollywood)
747
San Fernando Valley overlay
626
San Gabriel Valley (Pasadena, Pomona)
310
West LA, South Bay (Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach)
424
West LA overlay
562
Long Beach, Whittier
714
North Orange County (Anaheim)
How to Dial a 213 Number
| Calling From | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Within LA (local) | 213 + 7-digit number | 213-555-0100 |
| Within US (long distance) | 1 + 213 + 7-digit number | 1-213-555-0100 |
| Cell phone (anywhere) | +1 213 + 7-digit number | +1 213 555 0100 |
| From UK | 00 + 1 + 213 + number | 00-1-213-555-0100 |
| From India | 00 + 1 + 213 + number | 00-1-213-555-0100 |
10-Digit Dialing Required
Since the 213/323 overlay took effect in 2017, all calls in the area require 10-digit dialing — even local calls. You must always include the area code.
Major Companies & Landmarks
The 213 area code covers the Financial District, Civic Center, and entertainment core of Los Angeles — home to major institutions and employers:
AECOM
Fortune 500 (#157)
Engineering & Infrastructure
Downtown LA
Crypto.com Arena (Staples Center)
Venue
Sports & Entertainment
South Park / DTLA
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Landmark
Performing Arts
Bunker Hill / DTLA
Los Angeles City Hall
Government
City Government HQ
Civic Center
California Hospital Medical Center
Regional
Healthcare
Downtown LA
US Bank Tower
Landmark
Tallest building in LA (1,018 ft)
Bunker Hill
LA Times
Media
News & Media
Downtown LA
Riot Games
Major employer
Video Games (League of Legends)
West LA / DTLA offices
Deloitte (LA Office)
Big 4
Consulting & Professional Services
Downtown LA
Union Station
Landmark
Transportation Hub (Amtrak, Metro)
Downtown LA
Grand Central Market
Landmark
Historic food hall (since 1917)
Broadway / DTLA
Sofi Stadium (nearby)
Venue
NFL stadium (LA Rams & Chargers)
Inglewood
Scam & Spam Risk from 213 Numbers
Area code 213 has moderate-to-high spam riskdue to the high volume of calls originating from downtown LA's dense business district. Common scam types reported:
IRS/Tax scams
Callers impersonating IRS agents threatening arrest for unpaid taxes
Auto warranty scams
Fake "extended warranty" calls about vehicle coverage expiring
Immigration scams
Fake USCIS calls threatening deportation or offering visa help — targets LA's large immigrant communities
Student loan scams
Fake loan forgiveness offers asking for upfront fees
Health insurance scams
Unsolicited Covered California or Medicare enrollment calls
Got a suspicious call from a 213 number? Check it with our spam number checker.
Time Zone
Pacific Time (PT)
Standard (PST): UTC-8 (November–March)
Daylight (PDT): UTC-7 (March–November)
9 AM in LA = 12 PM ET = 5 PM London = 9:30 PM Mumbai
Business hours: 9 AM – 5 PM PT
Related Area Codes
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