Area Code 361

Where Is Area Code 361?

Area code 361 is the area code for a large portion of southern Texas. Area code 361 is located in the Central Time Zone and covers 22 counties of Texas. Area code 361 was put into effect on February 13, 1999, and was created from a split of area code 512.

Located on the southern coast of Texas, Corpus Christi is the eighth most populous city in the state and the county seat of Nueces County. Corpus Christi is a significant port city and is approximately 140 miles southeast of San Antonio. Corpus Christi has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and short, mild winters; the city ranks among the top 10 windiest cities in America. In 1519, Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda discovered a scenic semitropical bay on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi, which resulted in him naming the bay Corpus Christi Bay. In 1839, Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney founded a small trading post known as Kinney's Trading Post. From 1845 to 1846, General Zachary Taylor and his troops used Kinney's Trading Post as a campsite. Kinney's Trading Post was renamed Corpus Christi in 1847 and incorporated as a city in 1852. The Battle of Corpus Christi was fought in 1862 and the Port of Corpus Christi was opened in 1926. The 1919 Florida Keys hurricane devastated Corpus Christi, killing hundreds of residents and causing at least $20 million in damages; to protect the city from future storm surges, a seawall was built in 1940.

Much of Corpus Christi’s residents are employed in service, government, and wholesale and retail trade. Tourism is a major part of the economy; approximately 8 million people visit the Corpus Christi metropolitan area each year. The Port of Corpus Christi is the fourth largest port in the United States and handles mostly oil and agricultural products. Institutions of higher learning in the city include Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Del Mar College. Whataburger, the hamburger chain restaurant, first opened in Corpus Christi in 1950. Major shopping malls La Palmera and Sunrise Mall are located on South Padre Island Drive, the city's main retail corridor. The Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico surround the city, which in turn provides opportunities for nature tourism and water sports. Popular activities include waterfowl hunting, fishing, windsurfing, and bird watching. Points of interest in the city include the USS Lexington, the Padre Island National Seashore, the Texas State Aquarium, the Selena Museum, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, and the South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center.

Victoria is a city on the coastal plains of Texas and the county seat of Victoria County. Victoria is located 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the oldest cities in Texas. Victoria is not too far away from large cities such as Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Austin. Victoria has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. Going back in history, Martín De León established the town of Guadalupe Victoria in 1824; the town was named for the first President of the Republic of Mexico. In 1836, Mexican forces occupied Guadalupe Victoria until the Texas victory at San Jacinto. As a result, the Mexican residents fled the town and Anglo settlers arrived and renamed the town Victoria. When Victoria was incorporated under the Republic of Texas in 1839, it became the second-oldest incorporated city in the state. Today Victoria has a population of 62,592 and the racial makeup of the city is 76.2% White, 48.3% Hispanic, 7.8% African American, and 1.4% Asian (2010 Census). Unfortunately Victoria is a dangerous city to reside in. Much of Victoria’s economy is centered on retail, agriculture, industry, and education. The Victoria Mall is the city’s major shopping center. Points of interest in the city include the Riverside Park, the Texas Zoo, the Museum of the Coastal Bend, and the Victoria Fine Arts Center.

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