The area code 281 is located in Baytown, Texas.
Area code 281 serves Baytown, Texas, on the east side of the Greater Houston area along the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay. Baytown is known for the Fred Hartman Bridge, the Baytown Nature Center, and its strong ties to energy and petrochemical industry. This Gulf Coast location makes 281 important for businesses, schools, and households that connect daily with Houston’s metro network. If you see a 281 phone number, it often points to Baytown and nearby suburbs in Southeast Texas.
Established in 1996 as a split from 713, 281 later joined a unified overlay with 713, 832 (added in 1999), and 346 (added in 2014). Because of these overlays, the Houston region uses 10-digit dialing for all local calls. 281 works side by side with those area codes, so new numbers in Baytown may be assigned 281, 832, 346, or 713 depending on availability. This system keeps numbers flowing in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metro areas.
“Over 7 million people live in the Houston metro.” — U.S. Census Bureau
Area code 281 covers many Greater Houston communities, including:
In Baytown, 281 numbers span both Harris County and Chambers County, reflecting the city’s footprint across the channel. The area code follows Central Time (CT) and is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). Thanks to the overlay, callers may see any of the four Houston-area codes on local caller ID, but coverage across these communities is seamless. For anyone searching a Baytown phone number, area code 281 signals a connection to Houston’s east side and its vital Gulf Coast economy.