Area codes 256 and 938, Telephone area codes in northern Alabama, United States.
Area codes 256 and 938 cover a wide region in northern Alabama, serving cities like Huntsville, Decatur, Florence, and Gadsden. The numbering system is configured so that both area codes share the same geographic territory, which affects how callers dial within the region.
The 256 area code was created in 1998 when the original 205 was divided. The 938 code was later introduced in 2010 as an overlay system to meet growing demand for phone numbers in the same service area.
The telephone codes demonstrate the telecommunications evolution in northern Alabama, reflecting the region's population and technological advancement needs.
When calling within these area codes, callers must dial all ten digits because both codes serve the same region. This is important to remember for local calls to ensure the call goes through correctly.
Despite the introduction of area code 938 in 2010, approximately 800,000 telephone numbers remain available within the original 256 area code.
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