971 Area CodePortland, OR
Area code 971 covers Portland and nearby communities in Oregon, in the Pacific Time (PT) zone, home to about 2.1 million people across 135 cities. It overlays 503, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Where is area code 971?
Area code 971 serves part of Portland, OR and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (503) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 971 Area Code
What is the 971 area code?
The 971 area code serves Portland, Oregon, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 971 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 971 created?
The 971 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Portland once the existing area code 503 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 971 Area Code
The 971 area code serves Portland and surrounding areas in Oregon. It operates within the Pacific Time (PT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 503. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Portland
- Salem
- Gresham
- Hillsboro
- Beaverton
- Tigard
Got a call from a 971 number? It came from Portland, OR. Since 971 overlays with 503, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 971, Portland holds about 30% of the population; the rest is split across 134 smaller cities.
Portland Area Codes Overview
Portland is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 971 area code operates alongside 503. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 971 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 971 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | OR | 635,749 | 2% | 100% |
| Salem | OR | 180,406 | 1% | 100% |
| Gresham | OR | 111,507 | 0% | 100% |
| Hillsboro | OR | 110,337 | 0% | 100% |
| Beaverton | OR | 98,302 | 0% | 100% |
| Tigard | OR | 57,301 | 0% | 100% |
| Aloha | OR | 49,425 | 0% | 100% |
| Lake Oswego | OR | 40,029 | 0% | 100% |
| Keizer | OR | 39,152 | 0% | 100% |
| Oregon City | OR | 38,327 | 0% | 100% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 971 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 384 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 971 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 46% robocalls
- ↑ 12% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other50%191
- Dropped call or no message13%51
- Home improvement & cleaning11%42
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 971?
35% assigned to a telco
- 65% Landline
- 35% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (971)200- | Landline | Xo Oregon |
| (971)201- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (971)202- | Landline | Onvoy |
| (971)203- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (971)204- | Landline | Allstream |
| (971)205- | Landline | Allstream |
| (971)206- | Landline | Allstream |
| (971)207- | Wireless | T-Mobile Usa |
| (971)208- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (971)209- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 971 Area Code
Who called me from a 971 number?
A 971 number is assigned to Portland, Oregon, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 971 code to look nearby, so a 971 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 384 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 971 code (46% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 971 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 971 is a normal, officially assigned code for Portland, Oregon. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 971 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 384 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 971 code (46% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 971 area code?
Repeated calls from different 971 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 971 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 384 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 971 code (46% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 971 number?
If you aren't expecting a 971 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 971 area code?
Block a single 971 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 971 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 971?
Area code 971 covers Portland and the surrounding area in Oregon, spanning 135 cities with about 2,145,603 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 503.
Is 971 a real area code?
Yes. 971 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Portland, Oregon. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 971 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 971 area code in?
The 971 area code is in the Pacific Time (PT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 971 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 971 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 971 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 971 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.