Illinois · Central Time
861 Area Code
Area code 861 is in Illinois, serving west-central and northwest Illinois including Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and the Quad Cities. It is in the Central Time zone. It shares its territory with overlay code 309, so 10-digit dialing is required.
Last updated October 1, 2026 · Source: NANPA
Where is the 861 area code?
861 is a Illinois area code covering west-central and northwest Illinois including Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and the Quad Cities. In the wider directory it sits in the Midwest region.
Cities in the 861 area code
- Peoria
- Bloomington
- Normal
- Moline
- Rock Island
- Pekin
- East Peoria
- Galesburg
- Macomb
- East Moline
- Canton
- Kewanee
Counties served by 861
Peoria County, McLean County, Rock Island County, Tazewell County, Knox County, McDonough County, Fulton County, Henry County, Woodford County and Mercer County.
861 overlay codes and dialing
The 861 territory is covered by an overlay of 2 area codes: 309, 861. All of them serve the same geographic area, and the original code is 309. Because more than one code covers the same ground, 10-digit dialing is mandatory — you must dial the area code for every local call. New phone lines may be assigned any of these codes.
History of the 861 area code
861 went into service on February 24, 2023 as an overlay of 309, relieving number exhaustion in the Peoria area. Rather than splitting the region, the overlay lets existing customers keep their numbers while new lines draw from the added code. Learn more in our overlay guide.
Is 861 a scam or spam risk?
861 is a legitimate geographic area code, not a premium or toll line, so a call from it costs you nothing extra. That said, scammers frequently spoof real local area codes to look familiar on caller ID. A genuine 861 number on your screen is no guarantee the caller is in Peoria, IL or trustworthy. See spam & scam-risk area codes for how spoofing works and how to respond.
Other Illinois area codes
Explore more
See every code in Illinois, compare codes across the Midwest region, or view all Central Time codes. You can also browse the 8XX block or the complete numeric list of US area codes.
New to how this all works? Start with how area codes work, then read up on overlays, 10-digit dialing, and spam & scam-risk codes. To check another number, use the area code lookup tool.
Quick answers
861 area code FAQ
Where is the 861 area code?
The 861 area code is in Illinois, covering west-central and northwest Illinois including Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and the Quad Cities, in the Midwest region.
What cities are in the 861 area code?
Cities in the 861 area code include Peoria, Bloomington, Normal, Moline, Rock Island, Pekin, East Peoria, Galesburg, Macomb and East Moline.
What time zone is 861 in?
861 is in the Central Time zone.
What is the overlay for the 861 area code?
861 shares its territory with 309. Both codes (309, 861) serve the same area, so 10-digit dialing is required for every call.
When did the 861 area code start?
861 went into service on February 24, 2023 as an overlay of 309.
Do I have to dial 10 digits for 861?
Yes. Because 861 is an overlay area, you must dial the full 10-digit number (area code + 7 digits) for every call.
Is 861 a toll-free or premium code?
No. 861 is a standard geographic area code, so calling it costs the same as any local or long-distance call on your plan. Toll-free calls use 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 or 833.