The 931 area code serves the outer ring of Middle Tennessee surrounding the Nashville metro. Created in 1997 when it split from 615, 931 covers a broad rural and small-city region from Clarksville in the north to Columbia in the south and Cookeville on the Cumberland Plateau to the east.
Quick Summary of the 931 Area Code
| Area Code | 931 |
| State | Tennessee (TN) |
| Region | Middle Tennessee (Clarksville, Columbia & Cookeville) |
| Major Cities | Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Spring Hill, Tullahoma, Shelbyville, Lawrenceburg |
| Time Zone | Central Time (CT) – CST / CDT |
| Dialing Format | 7 or 10-digit dialing |
Geographic Coverage
The 931 area code forms a wide arc around the Nashville (615/629) metro, covering Clarksville and Fort Campbell in the north, Columbia and Spring Hill in the south, Cookeville on the Cumberland Plateau to the east, and Tullahoma, Shelbyville, and Lawrenceburg in the south-central part of the state. It borders Kentucky, Alabama, and the outer suburbs of Nashville.
Time Zone
The 931 area code observes Central Time (CT). Clocks follow Central Standard Time (UTC−6) in winter and shift to Central Daylight Time (UTC−5) from mid-March through early November. Because Tennessee straddles two time zones, note that this region runs one hour behind eastern Tennessee (Knoxville and Chattanooga). From the West Coast, this area is two hours ahead of Pacific Time, so a 9:00 AM call in California reaches a 931 number at 11:00 AM local time.
Tip: Business hours across the 931 region generally run 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday.
How to Dial a 931 Number
Area code 931 is not part of an overlay, so it has traditionally allowed 7-digit local dialing. However, 10-digit dialing is now the recommended nationwide standard, and dialing the full 10-digit number (931 + the line number) always works reliably. For international callers, dial your country’s exit code, then +1 (the North American country code), then 931, followed by the seven-digit local number.
Scam Alerts for the 931 Area Code
Like every U.S. area code, 931 has been used by scammers who spoof local numbers to appear trustworthy. Residents in Clarksville, Columbia, Cookeville, Spring Hill, Tullahoma, Shelbyville, Lawrenceburg should stay alert to the following common tactics:
| Scam Type | What to Watch For |
|---|---|
| IRS / Tax Scams | Threatening calls demanding immediate tax payment via gift cards or wire transfer. |
| Utility Shut-off | Impostors claiming to be your electric utility threatening to cut power unless you pay now. |
| Military / Veteran Scam | Calls targeting Fort Campbell families with fake benefit or charity solicitations. |
| Prize / Lottery Scam | Calls saying you won a prize but must pay a “fee” or “tax” to claim it. |
If you receive a suspicious call from a 931 number, take these steps to protect yourself:
- Do not share personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank details, or passwords over the phone.
- Hang up and verify by calling the organization back using an official number from its website.
- Report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.
- Block the number and consider registering with the National Do Not Call Registry.
Red Flag: Legitimate agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, or your local utility company will never demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Any 931 caller making such a demand is a scammer.
History and Economy of the 931 Region
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Area code 931 was created in 1997, split from 615, to serve the counties surrounding the Nashville metro as Middle Tennessee grew. The regional economy is diverse. Clarksville, the fifth-largest city in Tennessee, is closely tied to the Fort Campbell U.S. Army installation on the Kentucky line. Columbia and Spring Hill anchor a booming automotive-manufacturing corridor – the large General Motors assembly plant in Spring Hill is one of the region’s biggest employers. Cookeville, home to Tennessee Technological University, serves as the commercial hub of the Upper Cumberland, while agriculture and small-scale manufacturing sustain the rural communities in between.
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Looking Up a 931 Number
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To identify a 931 caller, use a reverse phone lookup or search the full 10-digit number online. Businesses, universities, and government offices across Middle Tennessee publish their 931 numbers, so a legitimate caller is often easy to confirm with a quick search.
Nearby & Related Area Codes
Tennessee is served by several area codes. If you are researching 931, these neighboring and overlay codes are worth knowing:
You can also browse our full directory of Tennessee area codes for more regional guides.
↑ See the complete list of All US Area Codes by State – every area code across all 50 states in one directory.
Explore Neighboring States
Researching area codes just across the state line? Start with these codes in the states that border Tennessee:
- Kentucky – area code 502
- Virginia – area code 804
- North Carolina – area code 704
- Georgia – area code 404
- Alabama – area code 205
- Mississippi – area code 601
- Arkansas – area code 501
- Missouri – area code 314
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 931 area code located?
The 931 area code covers the outer ring of Middle Tennessee around Nashville, including Clarksville, Columbia, Spring Hill, Cookeville, Tullahoma, and Shelbyville.
Does 931 have an overlay?
No. The 931 area code covers its Middle Tennessee region on its own and currently has no overlay code.
Do I need to dial 10 digits for 931?
Because 931 has no overlay, 7-digit local dialing has historically worked, but dialing the full 10 digits is now the recommended standard and always works.
What time zone is the 931 area code in?
The 931 area code observes Central Time (CST/CDT), like the rest of Middle Tennessee.
Related 931 Guides
- Is a 931 call safe? Read Is area code 931 a scam? Spam & safety guide.
- Local coverage: see the Clarksville area code guide.
- Worried about spam or robocalls? Browse our Scam Alerts directory.