The U.S. state of Alabama is served by six area codes. When the North American Numbering Plan was first defined in 1947, Alabama was a single numbering plan area (NPA), with area code 205. This configuration existed until 1995 when area code 334 was added for the southeastern part of the state. In 1998, area code 256 was assigned for northern Alabama. It had an overlay area code 938 added in 2010, which required ten-digit dialing. The area code 251 in south Alabama was split area code from 334 in 2001. Area code 659 was installed in 2019, after having been proposed in 2001.
| Area code | Established | Region | Map | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205/659 | 1947 November 12, 2019 |
Area code 205 covers the central and west central portions of the state including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Northport, Jasper, Oneonta, Clanton, and Pell City. Covered the entire state before the creation of Area code 334.
Area code 659 is an overlay of 205. Ten-digit dialing began on October 12, 2019 and "659" numbers became assignable as of November 12, 2019. |
|
[1] |
| 334 | January 15, 1995 | South central and southeastern portions of the state including Montgomery, Auburn-Opelika, Dothan, Valley, and Selma. Originally covered the entire southern half of the state, until Area code 251 was split off.
An overlay with an area code 483 is anticipated by early 2026. The date has not yet been determined, but ten-digit dialing will be required ahead of such overlay.[2] |
|
[3] |
| 256/938 | March 23, 1998 July 10, 2010 |
Northern and east central portions of the state including Huntsville-Decatur, Florence-Muscle Shoals, Gadsden, Anniston, Alexander City, and Sylacauga
Area code 938 is an overlay of 256. Ten-digit dialing began in June 2010 and "938" numbers became assignable as of July 10, 2010. |
|
[4][5][6] |
| 251 | June 18, 2001 | Southwestern portions of the state including Mobile, Monroeville, Atmore, Gulf Shores, and Daphne
Ten-digit dialing began on October 24, 2021, as 988 numbers in the area created a dialing conflict.[7] |
|
[8] |
References
edit- ^ NPA Code Search Information: 205, North American Numbering Plan Administrator, archived from the original on 2011-06-04, retrieved 2008-03-22
- ^ "Document Access".
- ^ Diel, Stan (December 15, 1994), "Ma Bell gives time to adjust to new code", The Birmingham News, p. B1
- ^ Underwood, Jerry (March 16, 1998), "Countdown starts to new area code:2...5...6", The Birmingham News, p. 1A
- ^ Lowry, Bob (March 4, 2009), "Flex your fingers for 10-digit dialing in 2010", The Huntsville Times, archived from the original on 2009-04-08
- ^ "Order for Relief of the 256 Numbering Plan Area" (PDF). Alabama Public Service Commission. March 3, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-22.
- ^ "Transition to 10-digit dialing (for 988 as 3-digit access to National Suicide Prevention Hotline)" (PDF). North American Numbering Plan Administrator. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ McCauley, Charles R. (February 14, 2001), "Southwest Alabama to get new area code", The Birmingham News, p. News