Introduction
Area code 661 serves most of Kern County and the majority of Northern Los Angeles County with local areas including Bakersfield, Lancaster, Palmdale and Santa Clarita. This area code split from area code 805 in 1999.
If you see a 661 number then you may be wondering if this is a local number or genuine. Below we've provided some quick facts and then more information on what 661 covers, how it split from 805, the local economy, and how to get a 661 line for your business.
Quick Facts About Area Code 661
- State: California (Kern County + Northern Los Angeles County)
- Main Cities: Bakersfield, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale, Tehachapi
- Established: February 13, 1999 (Split from 805)
- Parent Area Codes: 805 (Split from 213 in 1957)
- Overlay Area Code: None
- Time Zone: Pacific Time
- Known for: Oil fields in Kern County, Bakersfield Sound, Edwards Air Force Base, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Tehachapi Wind Farms.
Where is Area Code 661?
This covers the majority of Kern County, the majority of Northern Los Angeles County and small parts of Ventura, Santa Barbara and Tulare Counties. It covers all the way from the southern San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert.
- Kern County: Bakersfield, Taft, Tehachapi, Delano, Wasco, Shafter, Edwards Air Force Base
- Los Angeles County: Santa Clarita, Valencia, Lancaster, Palmdale
- Small parts of Ventura, Santa Barbara and Tulare.
All numbers will share the same prefix. The coastal cities of Santa Barbara and Ventura are covered by area code 805. Everything under 661 will also be in the Pacific Time Zone. This means that anyone calling from the east will be 3 hours ahead. So a call placed at 10am from New York will be received in Bakersfield at 7am.
Other Small Communities
Mojave, Rosamond, Frazier Park, Lebec, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Agua Dulce, Quartz Hill and Lake Los Angeles are all covered under 661. These are all small communities, some in the desert, some in mountain passes and some on ranches. Many of them are quite remote from the main cities, however having a local prefix means people know that you're from the area.
How Did 661 Split from the 805 Area Code?
The area code family started with area code 213. This is one of the original area codes established in 1947 and the parent of most area codes in Southern California. Area code 805 split from 213 in 1957 and covered the Central Coast, along with Kern County and the Antelope Valley.
As mobile phones, pagers and faxes became popular the area code became exhausted. On February 13, 1999 the regulator split the area code. The eastern half became 661 and the coastal counties remained area code 805.
There was a grace period meaning people could call using either area code until August 14, 1999. After that, 661 became compulsory.
Over 25 years later there is no overlay. All numbers will have the same clear indication that they're from the area.
How Does 661 Compare to Other Area Codes in California?
The coastal areas remain 805 (Santa Barbara and Ventura) while Los Angeles itself is covered by area code 213 and several newer codes. 661 is the inland desert and valley area.
To get a quick overview of what area code covers what city in the state of California you can check out the California area code directory.
What is Bakersfield Known For?
Bakersfield is located on top of the oil fields in Kern County. Kern County is the largest oil producing county in California. The Midway-Sunset oil field is the largest in the state. The Kern River and Elk Hills oil fields have created an energy economy that has been around for over a century.
Kern County is also known for agriculture. It is one of the highest producing farming counties in the country. Almonds, grapes and citrus grow throughout the southern San Joaquin Valley.
What is the Bakersfield Sound?
During the 1950s, the oil fields and farmland were filled with Dust Bowl migrants. This created a honky-tonk scene surrounding Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. The skinny style of playing with electric guitars became known as the Bakersfield Sound. The style was completely opposite to the slick sounds coming from Nashville and Bakersfield became a country music hub outside of Tennessee.
Why is the Antelope Valley an Aerospace Hub?
On October 14, 1947 Captain Chuck Yeager flew the Bell X-1 past Mach 1, becoming the first pilot to break the sound barrier in level flight. Edwards Air Force Base is within this area code and has become a center for flight testing in America.
NASA's Space Shuttle Enterprise completed its first free flight landing test here on August 12, 1977. The dry lake bed has had dozens of shuttles land. Lancaster and Palmdale still house aerospace contractors.
SpaceShipOne made the first privately funded crewed spaceflight from the Mojave Air and Space Port (Kern County) in 2004. Along with the California Poppy Reserve near Lancaster, the valley has everything from test pilots to spring flower tourism.
What Else is Santa Clarita and Tehachapi Known For?
Six Flags Magic Mountain opened in Valencia (next to Santa Clarita) on May 29, 1971. The park was taken over by Six Flags in 1979 and became the first amusement park to have 20 roller coasters in 2022. This is a Guinness World Record.
The Tehachapi Pass saw the start of wind development in the early 1980s making it one of the first large scale wind farms in the USA. The pass currently has around 700 megawatts of capacity thanks to the winds blowing through the gap between the desert and the coast.
How to Call a 661 Number from Outside the United States
Dial your country's exit code followed by 1 for the United States. Then dial 661 and the 7 digit number. If you're calling long distance from within the United States or Canada then you'll need to dial 1 first.
- Long Distance (United States/Canada): 1-661-555-0100
- From the UK: 00-1-661-555-0100
- From Mobile: +1 661 555 0100
Saving all your contacts with the full 10 digits including area code will help prevent you getting a failed call. Some office phone systems will require the full number. The digits will never indicate if it's a mobile, landline or cloud line.
Is a Call from 661 a Scam?
There is no additional risk with a 661 number. Scammers can spoof any area code. Any call with 661 showing on your caller ID is not a guarantee of who is calling.
You should treat any unexpected requests for bank details, Social Security numbers or one off passcodes the same regardless of what number is showing. Hang up and call the company using a number you've looked up.
Local area codes are more likely to be answered which is why scammers will mimic them. If they're pressuring you to act quickly then this is the red flag.
Will a Local Area Code Help My Calls Be Answered?
Many vendors and suppliers in the Bakersfield, Edwards and Santa Clarita area will screen unknown numbers. Using a local area code will help your call be heard. Verified numbers will help even more.
Call authentication regulations have been introduced by the FCC. Carriers are required to sign their outgoing calls using STIR/SHAKEN. This means the recipient's phone can tell if it's a verified call.
Who Will Benefit from Having a Local 661 Number?
Having a local area code will be most beneficial if your customers are screening unknown callers. The following 4 categories will benefit:
- Oilfield Services and Energy Suppliers calling operators in Bakersfield.
- Aerospace and Defense suppliers working with contractors in Edwards and Palmdale.
- Farm supplies and agricultural lenders throughout Kern County.
- Home services and real estate teams in Santa Clarita and Valencia.
How to Get a 661 Number for Your Business
You don't need to be based in Kern County to have a 661 number. The 3 most common ways to get a 661 number are:
- Cloud Phone Provider: Search online for available 661 numbers. Activate your line the same day. No hardware required and no visits from a technician.
- Port your existing 661 number from another carrier.
- SIM/Landline Carrier: Only suitable for 1 handset. Slower to set up and harder to scale.
With letsdial you can choose your 661 number during your 14 day free trial (no credit card required). The median setup time is less than 3 minutes. We sign all outgoing calls using STIR/SHAKEN at the switch so carriers can verify the number. Numbers can be ported in for free.
All paid plans include our AI Receptionist (minutes vary by plan). This means calls from Kern County and the Antelope Valley outside of business hours can be answered and, with a connected CRM, logged.
Conclusion
Area code 661 covers one area. Kern County and the Antelope Valley. It has no overlay and has remained the same since 1999. The area is known for Bakersfield's oil fields and country music roots, Edwards Air Force Base's flight testing history, Magic Mountain and the Tehachapi Wind Farms.
Getting a local line is quick. Put your 661 number in front of energy vendors, aerospace partners and local customers. Let them know you're local with your familiar prefix.
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Written by Aryan Khan · August 10, 2026
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