251 Area Code: Mobile, Alabama & Gulf Coast Guide (2026)

📅 2026-02-28 ⏱️ 15 min read ✍️ BubblyPhone Team

Complete guide to 251 area code covering Mobile, Alabama, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, and Daphne. Learn about America's original Mardi Gras, the Battle of Mobile Bay, Airbus manufacturing, USS Alabama, and Hank Aaron.

The 251 area code covers southwestern Alabama, serving cities including Mobile, Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Prichard, Saraland, and Foley. Created on June 18, 2001 — the 300th area code put into service in the United States — by splitting from area code 334, it spans 9 counties and is home to approximately 662,000 people.

This is the region where America's oldest Mardi Gras celebration has been held since 1703 — fifteen years before New Orleans was even founded — where Admiral Farragut shouted "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" during the Civil War's Battle of Mobile Bay, where Airbus built the first commercial aircraft assembly line in the US, and where Hank Aaron grew up before breaking Babe Ruth's home run record.

251 Area Code Quick Facts

State: Alabama
Major Cities: Mobile, Daphne, Fairhope, Gulf Shores
Area Code: 251 (no overlay)
Time Zone: Central (CT)
Combined Population: ~662,000
Created: June 18, 2001
Split From: Area code 334 (Montgomery)
Dialing: 10-digit mandatory

251 Area Code: How Mobile Got Its Own Code

205 (1947) — Originally covered the entire state of Alabama. 334 (1995) — Split off southern Alabama. By 2000, only 155 of 800 prefixes remained. 251 (2001) — Created June 18, 2001 as the 300th US area code. Covers 9 counties: Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe, Clarke, Washington, Choctaw, Conecuh, and portions of Wilcox.

America's Original Mardi Gras: Mobile Did It First

Mobile claims the oldest organized Mardi Gras celebration in the US, predating New Orleans. In 1703, French soldiers held the first organized Carnival celebration. Masked balls followed in 1704. The first known parade rolled in 1711. New Orleans wasn't even founded until 1718 — fifteen years after Mobile was already celebrating.

"Damn the Torpedoes": The Battle of Mobile Bay

On August 5, 1864, Union Admiral David Glasgow Farragut led a fleet into Mobile Bay. When USS Tecumseh struck a mine and sank, Farragut shouted "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" The Union victory was one of three critical 1864 victories that secured Lincoln's reelection.

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

USS Alabama (BB-60) earned 9 Battle Stars in WWII and led the American fleet into Tokyo Bay. The 155-acre park also features USS Drum submarine (15 enemy ships sunk, 12 battle stars). Open 364 days a year, it draws visitors from over 70 countries.

Airbus Mobile: America's First Commercial Aircraft Assembly Line

Airbus built its first US aircraft assembly line in Mobile. The first A321 was delivered to JetBlue on April 25, 2016. Today the facility operates 3 final assembly lines with over $1 billion invested and 600+ aircraft delivered. Mobile is now the 4th largest commercial aviation manufacturing location in the world.

Hank Aaron: Mobile's Greatest Athlete

Hank Aaron was born in Mobile on February 5, 1934. He broke Babe Ruth's record with 755 career home runs. Mobile has produced more MLB Hall of Famers per capita than almost any other American city, including Satchel Paige, Willie McCovey, Ozzie Smith, and Billy Williams.

Is a 251 Area Code Call a Scam?

Area code 251 is a legitimate code serving approximately 662,000 people in southwestern Alabama. However, like all area codes, 251 numbers can be spoofed. Common scams include fake vacation rental deals targeting Gulf Shores tourists. Use our Spam Number Checker to verify suspicious numbers.

251 vs Ethiopia Country Code +251

US area code 251 (southwestern Alabama) and international country code +251 (Ethiopia) share the same digits but are completely different. When calling a US 251 number from abroad, dial +1-251-XXX-XXXX. When calling Ethiopia, dial +251-XX-XXX-XXXX.

How to Call 251 Area Code Internationally

Dial exit code + 1 + 251 + 7-digit number. On mobile: +1-251-XXX-XXXX. Use our Best Time to Call for Central Time info. Look up any code with our Area Code Lookup. Check our rates.