Area codes 256 and 938

Region covered by area code 256/938 in Alabama

Area codes 256 and 938 are telephone numbering plan codes that mostly cover North Alabama as well as some eastern portions of the state.

The main area code, 256, was created on March 23, 1998, as a split from area code 205.^[1] In order to allow people time to reprogram electronics such as computers, cell phones, pagers and fax machines, use of the 205 area code continued in the 256 areas through September 28, 1998.^[1]

It covers north and northeast Alabama and includes the following metropolitan areas:

Huntsville Metropolitan Area
Decatur Metropolitan Area
The Shoals
Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area
Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Area

In March 2009, the Alabama Public Service Commission announced that the state's first all-services overlay area code, 938, would be added with the current 256 area code "sometime in 2011".^[2]^[3] As a result, 10-digit dialing was implemented for all numbers in the area with voluntary compliance beginning on November 7, 2009, and mandatory use by June 5, 2010 instead of dialing 7 digits.^[4]^[5] The 938 area code took effect beginning July 10, 2010.^[4] This timing roughly coincided with the end of the originally projected 12-year "life span" of the original 256 area code.^[2]

Counties and cities included[]

Counties[]

Blount County (part, near Arab on Brindlee Mountain, most of Blount County is in area code 205)
Calhoun County (part, some of Calhoun County is in area code 205)1234
Cherokee County
Clay County
Cleburne County
Colbert County
Coosa County
Cullman County
DeKalb County
Elmore County (part, most of Elmore County is in area code 334)
Etowah County (part, some of Etowah County is in area code 205)
Franklin County (part, some of Franklin County is in area code 205)
Jackson County
Lawrence County
Lauderdale County
Limestone County
Madison County
Marshall County
Morgan County
Randolph County (part, some of Randolph County is in area code 334)
Saint Clair County (part, the Steele area. Most of Saint Clair County is in area code 205)
Talladega County (part, the Lincoln area is in area code 205)
Tallapoosa County (part, some of Tallapoosa County is in area code 334)
Winston County (part, most of Winston County is in area code 205)

Cities[]

References[]

^ ^a ^b Underwood, Jerry (March 16, 1998). "Countdown starts to new area code: 2...5...6". The Birmingham News. p. 1A.
^ ^a ^b Lowry, Bob (March 4, 2009). "Flex your fingers for 10-digit dialing in 2010". The Huntsville Times.
^ "Order for Relief of the 256 Numbering Plan Area" (PDF). Alabama Public Service Commission. March 3, 2009.
^ ^a ^b Associated Press (October 6, 2009). "10-digit calls in Alabama's 256 area code to begin". The Birmingham News. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
^ "Introducing Alabama's New Area Code 938" (PDF) (Press release). AT&T. November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2010.

External links[]

Alabama area codes: 205/659, 251, 256/938, 334
	North: 931
West: 662, 205/659	256/938	East: 706/762, 770/678/470
	South: 205/659, 334
Tennessee area codes: 423, 615/629, 731, 865, 901, 931
Mississippi area codes: 228, 601/769, 662
Georgia area codes: 229, 404, 470/678, 478, 706/762, 770, 912

Coordinates: 34°8′N 85°58′W / 34.133°N 85.967°W / 34.133; -85.967

[March16-1] Underwood, Jerry (March 16, 1998). "Countdown starts to new area code: 2...5...6". The Birmingham News. p. 1A.

[htm1-2] Lowry, Bob (March 4, 2009). "Flex your fingers for 10-digit dialing in 2010". The Huntsville Times.

[apsc-3] "Order for Relief of the 256 Numbering Plan Area" (PDF). Alabama Public Service Commission. March 3, 2009.

[ap106-4] Associated Press (October 6, 2009). "10-digit calls in Alabama's 256 area code to begin". The Birmingham News. Retrieved April 6, 2012.

[bspr-5] "Introducing Alabama's New Area Code 938" (PDF) (Press release). AT&T. November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2010.

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