Reported (256) XXX-XXXX phone numbers lookup

Area Code 256 History and Coverage

Area code 256 was launched in 1998 due to the division of the geographic territory of the previous area code 205 into two parts: 256 acquired the north and the east of the state, whereas 205 stayed in its former territory in the central and western regions of the state. The establishment of the new area code became necessary due to the lack of numbers in one part of the state, as it was served by only one area code till then.

The geographical region covered by the area code 256 is characterized by the presence of several economic and geographic sub-regions rather than the metropolitan market. Area code 256 covers such regions as Shoals located on the Tennessee River, the Tennessee Valley, the Sand Mountain area, and Anniston-Gadsden corridor. Such industries as manufacturing, military operations, higher education, river transportation, and regional health care became responsible for the necessity for telecommunication services in the region.

In 2010, another area code 938 was introduced in addition to the already existing one for serving the same 256 territory. Unlike the 1998 situation, when the geographic border was divided, the introduction of the overlay area code did not affect the current geographic border of the territory.