The 357 area code is the newest telephone code in California's Central Valley — an overlay that launched on March 26, 2025 and shares the exact same territory as the long-established 559.
It covers Fresno, Visalia, Clovis, Porterville, Madera, and the surrounding valley counties. If you see a 357 number, you are reaching someone in the same region where 559 has served since 1998; the new code simply provides fresh numbers as the 559 pool nears exhaustion.
This guide covers where the 357 area code is, how 559 grew into it, what drives the Central Valley economy, how to dial correctly, which code to pick for your business, and how to get a 357 number.
Where is the 357 area code?
The 357 area code location is the southern half of California's Central Valley — the same four-county footprint as 559. To the north, Stockton and Modesto are served by the 350 area code; Bakersfield to the south runs on 661. The 357 and 559 region sits between those two, stretching from the Sierra Nevada foothills in the east to the Coast Ranges in the west.
Cities and communities inside the 357 / 559 footprint:
| City | County | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno | Fresno | Largest inland city in California |
| Clovis | Fresno | Fast-growing Fresno suburb, medical hub |
| Visalia | Tulare | Gateway to Sequoia National Park |
| Porterville | Tulare | Agricultural hub, foothill communities |
| Madera | Madera | Wine country, almond groves |
| Reedley | Fresno | "World's fruit basket" |
| Selma | Fresno | Raisin capital of the world |
| Coalinga | Fresno | Oil and natural-gas corridor |
How 559 grew into the 357 overlay
The Central Valley's telephone history moved in three clear stages:
1947 — California launched its first post-war area codes. A single code served much of the state's interior for decades.
November 14, 1998 — Population growth and mobile adoption pushed the original interior code to its limits. Regulators split it: the new 559 took the southern half — Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties — while 209 remained in the north (Stockton, Modesto). 559 became the 246th area code put into service in the United States.
2020s — Explosive smartphone growth, VoIP adoption, and IoT devices accelerated 559's number consumption. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) projected the pool would be exhausted by mid-2025.
March 26, 2025 — The CPUC brought the 357 overlay into service. Existing 559 subscribers kept their numbers unchanged. New lines across the same region began receiving 357 numbers. Ten-digit dialing became mandatory for all calls within the overlay area.
Central Valley's economy by the numbers
The 357 / 559 region anchors one of the most productive agricultural economies on earth — and is quietly diversifying into technology and logistics:
- Agriculture — Fresno County alone ranks among the top three producing counties in the United States. Almonds, grapes, tomatoes, pistachios, and citrus dominate the landscape.
- Food processing — Dozens of packing houses, canneries, and cold-storage facilities operate across Tulare and Kings counties, employing tens of thousands year-round.
- Healthcare — Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno is the region's level-I trauma center; Kaweah Health in Visalia anchors the Tulare County system, together supporting a major employer base.
- Logistics and distribution — Positioned midway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, the Central Valley is a key freight corridor. Major warehouse and distribution hubs cluster around Fresno and Visalia.
- AgTech — A growing cluster of precision-agriculture startups is based in Fresno, building drone, sensor, and data tools for the region's massive farming sector.
For businesses in farming, distribution, healthcare, and professional services, a 357 or 559 number carries immediate local credibility across the valley.
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How to dial a 357 or 559 number
All calls within the 357 / 559 region require 10-digit dialing — area code plus the seven-digit number — even between neighbors on the same street. This rule took effect when the overlay launched. The region observes Pacific Time (PT): UTC −8 in winter (PST) and UTC −7 during Daylight Saving Time (PDT), the same clock as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
- Within the overlay area: dial 357-XXX-XXXX or 559-XXX-XXXX (10 digits, no leading 1)
- From elsewhere in the US: dial 1-357-XXX-XXXX
- Internationally or from a mobile: dial +1-357-XXX-XXXX
Are 357 and 559 the same?
Yes — for every practical purpose, 357 and 559 are identical. Because 357 is an overlay, the two codes are fully interchangeable:
- Same geography. Both codes cover Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties. There is no 357 sub-region and no 559 sub-region — the footprint is one and the same.
- Same call rates. Calls between a 357 number and a 559 number are local, never long-distance, regardless of carrier.
- Same dialing rules. Ten digits are required for every call within the overlay area — whether you dial 357 to 559, 559 to 559, or any other combination.
- No choice involved. New subscribers do not pick which code they receive; the carrier assigns whichever number is next in the available pool. Existing 559 holders keep 559 forever.
If you need a local Central Valley number for your business and want help selecting a prefix or plan, contact us and our team will walk you through available options.
Scam calls from 357 numbers
Because 357 is new, many people do not yet recognize it — which makes spoofed 357 calls worth extra scrutiny. Fraudsters fake a local prefix so the contact looks like it originates from the Fresno or Visalia area. Common schemes include fake utility disconnection notices, Social Security suspension warnings, and auto-warranty robocalls.
The FCC's STIR/SHAKEN call authentication framework is designed to reduce this spoofing; carriers use it to label likely-spoofed calls as "Spam Risk" before they reach you.
Practical habits to stay safe:
- Let unknown 357 calls go to voicemail before returning them.
- Never share one-time codes, account numbers, or card details with an inbound caller you did not expect.
- Be skeptical of any call or text pressuring you to act immediately.
- Enable your carrier's built-in spam-filtering or call-screening tools.
How to get a 357 number
Getting a 357 number takes minutes through a VoIP provider:
- Sign up — Create an account with My Country Mobile or another hosted VoIP provider.
- Search — Enter "357" as the desired area code and browse available numbers.
- Pick a number — Choose a prefix tied to Fresno, Visalia, Clovis, or Porterville if local presence matters to your brand.
- Select a plan — Add the features your business needs: call routing, auto-attendant, voicemail-to-email, or analytics.
- Go live — Activate in minutes and start receiving calls and texts from the 357 / 559 region immediately.
Key takeaways
- 357 is the March 2025 overlay of 559, covering Fresno, Visalia, Clovis, Porterville, Madera, and all of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties.
- Existing 559 numbers were not changed; only new lines are issued 357 numbers.
- 559 itself was created in 1998 as a split from 209, which still serves the northern Central Valley.
- All calls in the region require 10-digit dialing; the time zone is Pacific (PT).
- Both 357 and 559 reach the same territory with identical rates and dialing rules — they are fully interchangeable.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 357 area code?
The 357 area code is a California telephone area code covering Fresno, Visalia, Clovis, Porterville, Madera, and surrounding communities in the Central Valley. It is an overlay of 559 that went into service on March 26, 2025.
Where is the 357 area code located?
Area code 357 covers Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties in central California. Major cities include Fresno, Clovis, Visalia, Porterville, Reedley, Selma, Madera, and Coalinga. It does not cover Bakersfield (661) or the Stockton and Modesto area (350 / 209).
Is 357 a new area code?
Yes. The 357 area code became active on March 26, 2025, making it one of California's newest codes. It was created because 559 was running low on available numbers due to mobile and VoIP growth.
Do I need to change my 559 number?
No. All existing 559 numbers remain exactly as they are. The 357 overlay adds new numbers alongside 559; no subscriber was required to renumber.
What time zone is area code 357 in?
Area code 357 is in the Pacific Time Zone — PST (UTC −8) in winter and PDT (UTC −7) during Daylight Saving Time. This is the same time zone as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Can I send texts with a 357 number?
Yes, if your VoIP or carrier provider supports SMS. Most hosted phone services that issue 357 numbers also enable text messaging on the same line.
What area code did 357 replace?
The 357 area code did not replace any code — it is an overlay, meaning 559 still works alongside it. Before 559 existed, the region was covered by the original 209 area code until a 1998 split created 559.
How do I get a 357 area code number?
Sign up with a VoIP provider, search for 357 numbers, pick a prefix tied to Fresno, Visalia, or another Central Valley city, choose a plan, and activate. Most providers can provision a 357 number in under five minutes.
