Area codes are a critical part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). They’re essential to routing telephone calls.
If you’re seeing the 541 area code pop up on your caller ID, the call is coming from Oregon. More specifically, the 541 area code encompasses the majority of the state of Oregon, outside of the Portland metro area.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the 541 area code, including its history, the areas it covers, some demographic information, and other relevant details.
Where is area code 541?
Area code 541 blankets a big swath of Oregon, covering 28 counties in all.
This part of the state is known for its diverse landscape, from the Pacific coastline to the Cascade Mountains to the high desert plateau.
The 541 area code includes these major cities:
- Eugene
- Bend
- Medford
…as well as smaller communities such as Ashland, Corvallis, Klamath Falls, and Roseburg.
Because the 541 area code covers such a large territory, it includes both Pacific and Mountain time zones.
If you’re a business with customers or clients in the 541 area code, be sure to note whether they’re operating on Pacific time or Mountain time. As you probably know, the Mountain time zone is one hour ahead of the Pacific time zone.
History of the 541 Area Code
Before 1995, all of Oregon shared the 503 area code. As the population grew and more people needed phone numbers (especially with the rise of cell phones and fax machines), it became clear that 503 wouldn’t be able to keep up.
So, in November 1995, the 541 area code was created, covering most of Oregon outside of the Portland metro area and the northwest corner of the state.
Even later, in 2010, an overlay code, 458, was introduced. Overlay codes are added on top of existing area codes when the number of available phone numbers starts to run out. Instead of splitting the area geographically, an overlay adds a new area code to the same region. This means that in the 541/458 area, you must dial the area code even when calling a local number.
Demographics of the 541 area code region
The 541 area code blankets a large portion of Oregon, so it’s home to a diverse population. Here’s a quick look at the demographics based on the 2020 Census.
Population overview
In 2020, the population served by the 541 area code was 2,083,849. Of course, population figures are dynamic and constantly in flux.
Demographic breakdown
The population breaks down roughly like this:
- White: 82%
- Hispanic: 13%
- Native American: 2.3%
- Black: 1.8%
- Asian: 1.7%
- Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: .2%
- Male: 49.7%
- Female: 50.3%
The median age in the 541 area code is 41.4 years. For males, the median age is 40.1 years, and for females, it’s 42.7 years.
Household information
The area covered by the 541 area code has 949,945 housing units, with 841,455 households. The average household size is 2.46 people, and the average family size is 2.93 people.
Prefix Assignment and Usage
Like all area codes, 541 is divided into prefixes, the first three numbers in a phone number after the area code. These prefixes are assigned to phone companies, which then assign the individual numbers to their customers. Let’s take a look at how those prefixes break down.
Active and Inactive Prefixes
Of the possible prefixes within the 541 area code, 766 are actively assigned to phone companies.
Landline vs. Wireless Usage
Interestingly, a large percentage of 541 prefixes are still assigned to landlines. Around 71.3% of the prefixes are for landlines, while only 28.7% are assigned to wireless devices. This may change in the coming years as more people switch to cell phones.
Area Code Exhaustion
Is the 541 area code in danger of running out of numbers? Not at the present time, and there are no planned or potential relief measures in place. That could change, of course, if the population of Oregon grows rapidly or if there’s a sudden surge in demand for new phone numbers.
Time zone details and daylight saving time
Because it’s such a large area, the 541 area code covers two time zones: Pacific and Mountain.
Cities within the 541 area code that observe Pacific Time include:
- Ashland
- Brookings
- Grants Pass
- Klamath Falls
- Medford
- Roseburg
Cities within the 541 area code that observe Mountain Time include:
- Burns
- Harper
- Jordan Valley
- Ontario
Daylight saving time (DST) in 2025 begins on Sunday, March 9, at 2:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). DST ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2:00 AM MDT/PDT. MST stands for Mountain Standard Time, and PST stands for Pacific Standard Time.
Conclusion
The 541 area code covers most of Oregon outside of the Portland metropolitan area, including major cities like Eugene, Bend, and Medford. It serves a diverse population across a large geographic area and is essential to the state’s telecommunications infrastructure.
As Oregon continues to grow and the demand for phone numbers increases, it will be interesting to see how the state manages its area codes in the future. Will the 541 area code be split, or will an overlay code be introduced? Only time will tell how Oregon will adapt to the ever-changing world of telecommunications.