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Central Time Zone

Time zone in North America

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Daylight saving time (DST) is observed in most parts of that zone (20 states in the US, three provinces or territories in Canada, and several border municipalities in Mexico): Central Standard Time (CST) is observed from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. It is six hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and designated internationally as UTC−6. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, the same areas observe DST, creating the designation of Central Daylight Time (CDT), which is five hours behind UTC and known formally as UTC−5.

Regions using Central Time (CT)

Canada

Two provinces and one territory are contained entirely in the Central Time Zone, all on year-round Central Standard Time (UTC−6):

Central Standard Time (UTC−6 year-round) is officially called Alberta Time (ABT) and Northwest Territories Time in their respective jurisdictions.

In the province of British Columbia, Central Standard Time (UTC−6 year-round) is observed in the areas noted, while all other areas observe Mountain Standard Time:

  • Regional District of East Kootenay
  • Town of Golden
  • Columbia-Shuswap Regional District Area A

The following Canadian provinces and territories observe Central Time in the areas noted, while their other areas observe Eastern Time:

  • Nunavut (territory): western areas (most of Kivalliq Region and part of Qikiqtaaluk Region)
  • Ontario (province): a portion of the northwest bordering southeastern Manitoba, in and around Kenora.

On 17 September 2026, Manitoba premier Wab Kinew announced the province of Manitoba, previously on Central Time with daylight saving time, would be adopting permanent DST, moving the province to year-round Eastern Standard Time (UTC−05:00).

United States

Ten states are contained entirely in the Central Time Zone:

Five states are split between the Central Time Zone and the Mountain Time Zone:

  • Kansas: all except for Sherman, Wallace, Greeley, and Hamilton counties
  • Nebraska: eastern two thirds including the east part of Cherry County
  • North Dakota: all except for southwest regions, south part of McKenzie County, and the majority of Dunn County and far western Sioux County
  • South Dakota: eastern half including part of Stanley County
  • Texas: all except for El Paso, Hudspeth, and northwestern Culberson counties

Five states are split between the Central Time Zone and the Eastern Time Zone:

  • Florida: Florida panhandle west of the Apalachicola River; Franklin County west of the Apalachicola River and the northern parts of Gulf County are in the Central Time Zone
  • Indiana: Northwest Indiana and most of Southwestern Indiana, including the Evansville metropolitan area
  • Kentucky: the western portion of the state, including three major cities: Bowling Green, Owensboro and Paducah
  • Michigan: The four Upper Peninsula counties bordering Wisconsin: Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee counties
  • Tennessee: West Tennessee and Middle Tennessee, including the major cities of Nashville, Memphis, and Clarksville

Additionally, Phenix City, Alabama, and several nearby communities in Russell County, Alabama, unofficially observe Eastern Time. This is due to their close proximity to Columbus, Georgia, which is on Eastern Time.

Although legally located within the Central Time Zone, Kenton, Oklahoma—located to the adjacent east of the defined border of the Central and Mountain time zones (at the Oklahoma−New Mexico state line)—unofficially observes Mountain Time. This is reportedly because most people who interact with the town reside in either New Mexico or Colorado.

Mexico

Most of Mexico—roughly the eastern three-fourths—lies in the Central Time Zone, except for five northwestern states (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora, and most of Nayarit) and one southeastern state (Quintana Roo). It is known locally as the Zona Centro.

The federal entities of Mexico that observe Central Time:

Central America

Out of the seven countries comprising Central America, all but one use Central Standard Time year-round:

Panama, which recognizes Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5) year round, is the exception.

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