951 Area Code — Riverside & Inland Empire, CA: Cities, History & Scam Risk
Area code 951 covers western Riverside County in California's Inland Empire. 16 cities, split from 909 in 2004, major employers, scam risk, timezone, and dialing guide.
The 951 area code serves western Riverside Countyin Southern California's Inland Empire — one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. Created in 2004 by splitting from area code 909, it covers cities like Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula, and Murrieta, serving over 2 million residents.
951 Area Code at a Glance
Location: Western Riverside County, CA
Region: Inland Empire (IE)
Year Activated: July 17, 2004
Split from: Area code 909
Timezone: Pacific (UTC-8/UTC-7)
Population Served: ~2.1 million
Cities & Communities in the 951 Area
| City | Population | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside | 314,998 | County seat, UC Riverside |
| Corona | 157,136 | Circle City — historic Grand Boulevard |
| Moreno Valley | 212,477 | Major Amazon/logistics hub |
| Temecula | 110,003 | Wine country — 40+ wineries |
| Murrieta | 113,167 | Safest city in IE (FBI stats) |
| Menifee | 102,527 | One of CA's newest cities (2008) |
| Hemet | 90,414 | Retirement community, San Jacinto Valley |
| Lake Elsinore | 73,629 | Known for skydiving and the lake |
| Perris | 80,537 | March Air Reserve Base nearby |
| San Jacinto | 53,677 | Near Mt. San Jacinto (10,834 ft) |
| Beaumont | 54,282 | Fastest-growing city in IE |
| Norco | 27,063 | Horse Town USA — equestrian community |
| Eastvale | 69,757 | Incorporated 2010, young city |
| Jurupa Valley | 113,772 | Incorporated 2011 |
| Wildomar | 37,229 | Incorporated 2008 |
| Canyon Lake | 11,582 | Gated lakeside community |
History of the 951 Area Code
The Inland Empire originally shared area codes with Orange County and the broader Southern California region. The 951 code was carved out in 2004 as Riverside County's population boomed:
Area code 714 created — covered all of Southern California outside LA (including Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego counties).
Area code 619 split off for San Diego County from 714.
November 14 — Area code 909 created by splitting the Inland Empire (Riverside + San Bernardino counties) from 714, which retained Orange County.
July 17 — Area code 951 activated by splitting western Riverside County from 909. The 909 code retained San Bernardino County. This was area code #324 in North America.
No Overlay Yet
Unlike most California area codes, 951 currently has no overlay. It is the sole code for western Riverside County. An overlay may be assigned in the future as the number pool depletes.
How to Dial a 951 Number
| Calling From | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Within 951 (local) | 951 + 7-digit number | 951-555-0100 |
| Within US | 1 + 951 + 7-digit number | 1-951-555-0100 |
| Cell phone (anywhere) | +1 951 + 7-digit number | +1 951 555 0100 |
| From Mexico | 00 + 1 + 951 + number | 00-1-951-555-0100 |
| From UK | 00 + 1 + 951 + number | 00-1-951-555-0100 |
Major Employers & Landmarks
UC Riverside
Public University
Education — 26,000+ students, R1 research university
Riverside
March Air Reserve Base
Military
Air Force Reserve Command — major military installation
Riverside/Moreno Valley
Amazon Fulfillment Centers
Fortune 500
E-commerce logistics — multiple IE warehouses
Moreno Valley, Eastvale, Beaumont
Riverside Community Hospital
Regional
Healthcare — 373-bed hospital
Riverside
Stater Bros. Markets
Regional
Grocery chain HQ — 170 stores
San Bernardino (adjacent)
Pechanga Resort Casino
Regional
Largest casino in CA — 200,000 sq ft gaming
Temecula
Temecula Valley Wine Country
Tourism
40+ wineries — major tourist destination
Temecula
Riverside National Cemetery
Federal
Largest national cemetery in the US by interments
Riverside
California Baptist University
Private University
Education — 12,000+ students
Riverside
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Major Medical
Healthcare — nationally ranked (adjacent in 909)
Loma Linda (adjacent)
Scam & Spam Risk from 951 Numbers
Auto warranty scams
Robocalls about expiring vehicle warranties — very common in car-dependent IE
Solar panel scams
Aggressive "free solar" pitches — Inland Empire's sunny climate makes residents targets
Amazon delivery scams
Fake package delivery notifications — IE has major Amazon fulfillment centers
Utility scams (SCE)
Fake Southern California Edison calls threatening disconnection
Medicare/health insurance
Targeting IE's large retiree population (Hemet, Sun City, Menifee)
Check suspicious 951 numbers 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 Riverside = 12 PM ET = 5 PM London
Business hours: 9 AM – 5 PM PT
Adjacent Area Codes
909
San Bernardino County (IE)
714
Orange County (Anaheim)
760
East Riverside & Imperial County
442
East San Diego County overlay
619
San Diego
858
North San Diego County
Related Area Codes
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