350 Area Code: Stockton, Modesto & the Central Valley

The 350 area code is the newest code in California's Central Valley — a 2022 overlay layered on top of the long-standing 209. It covers the same San Joaquin Valley territory, from Stockton and Modesto down to Merced and Turlock. If you have been offered a 350 number, you are still firmly in the 209's footprint; 350 is simply the new code being issued as 209 runs out of numbers.

This guide covers where the 350 area code is, why the 209 needed an overlay, how 209 and 350 work together, the San Joaquin Valley economy behind it, the "is it Colombia?" mix-up, dialing, and how to get a 350 number.

Where is the 350 area code?

The 350 area code location is California's northern San Joaquin Valley — the same region as 209. It sits inland and east of the San Francisco Bay Area, south of Sacramento.

Cities and communities inside the 350 / 209 footprint include:

Why the 209 got the 350 overlay

For decades, the northern San Joaquin Valley ran entirely on 209 (one of California's older codes, dating to 1958). As the Valley's population and mobile lines grew, the 209 number pool was projected to run out.

Rather than split the region — which would have forced half the Valley to change numbers — California regulators added the 350 overlay, in service since November 28, 2022. The neighboring 209 area code keeps every existing number exactly as it is; 350 simply provides a fresh pool of numbers for new lines across the same area.

How 209 and 350 work together

Because 350 overlays 209, the two codes cover identical ground — neither signals a different city or carrier:

• Your existing 209 number does not change.
• New phone lines may be assigned 350 depending on availability.
• Ten-digit dialing is required on every call, even local ones.
• Calls between 209 and 350 are local, with no long-distance charge between them.

The San Joaquin Valley breadbasket

The 209/350 region is one of the most productive agricultural areas on earth, and its economy reflects that:

• Agriculture — almonds, walnuts, dairy, grapes, and tomatoes pour out of the San Joaquin Valley, one of the world's richest farm regions.
• Logistics and distribution — Tracy and the I-5 / Highway 99 corridor host massive distribution centers serving Northern California.
• The Port of Stockton — one of California's inland deep-water ports, moving agricultural and bulk goods.
• Education and healthcare — UC Merced, Stanislaus State, and regional hospital systems anchor the metro areas.

For agribusiness, logistics, healthcare, and service firms, a 209 or 350 number reads as genuinely local to the Central Valley.

Is 350 a California or Colombia number?

Because "350" also appears in international dialing, some people search whether it belongs to Colombia. To be clear: as a North American area code, 350 is a US code for California's Central Valley, written +1 350 XXX XXXX. The confusion comes from Colombia, where mobile numbers use a +57 country code followed by digits like 350 — a completely different format. A "+1 350" number is a Central Valley US number, not an international one.

350 time zone and dialing

The 350 area code time zone is Pacific Time (PT) — PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer, the same clock as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Because 350 shares an overlay with 209, ten-digit dialing is required on every call, including from cell phones. A 350 number works for calls and texts on mobile just like any US number: dial 1 350 XXX XXXX from elsewhere in the US, or +1 350 XXX XXXX internationally and from mobiles.

Putting a 350 number to work for your business

Because 350 is the code being issued to new lines, it is a natural fit for a business setting up in the Central Valley — you get a genuinely local number without competing for scarce 209 inventory. A local code reads as familiar and lifts answer rates over an unknown out-of-state or toll-free line.

You do not need a Stockton office to claim one. A cloud phone provider can assign you a 350 number that rings and texts on your existing devices and routes calls anywhere. With a provider like My Country Mobile, you can pick a 350 line, set up routing, an auto-attendant, and voicemail, and be live in minutes.

Staying safe from spoofed 350 calls

Because 350 is new, many people don't recognize it yet — which makes spoofed 350 calls and texts worth extra scrutiny. Fraudsters fake a local prefix so the contact looks like it's from the Central Valley.

A few habits keep you safe:

• Let unknown 350 or 209 calls go to voicemail, and don't tap links in unexpected texts.
• Never share one-time codes, card numbers, or login details with an inbound caller or texter.
• Be skeptical of "package delivery," "your account is locked," or prize-style messages that pressure you to act fast.
• Use carrier spam filtering. The FCC's STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework is why many phones now label these as "Spam Risk."

Key takeaways

• 350 is the new overlay on 209 in California's Central Valley — Stockton, Modesto, and Merced.
• It has been in service since November 28, 2022.
• Existing 209 numbers don't change; new lines may get 350, and ten-digit dialing is required.
• The region is the San Joaquin Valley breadbasket, on Pacific Time — a US code, not Colombia.
• You can get a 350 number from the cloud without a California address.

Frequently asked questions