256 Area CodeHuntsville, AL
Area code 256 covers Huntsville and nearby communities in Alabama, in the Central Time (CT) zone, home to about 973,000 people across 183 cities. It overlays 938, so the same region uses both and every local call needs all ten digits.
Overview
- Major City
- Huntsville
- State
- Alabama (AL)
- Timezone
- Central Time (CT)
- Current Time
- Overlay
- Yes – shares area with 938
Where is area code 256?
Area code 256 serves part of Huntsville, AL and the surrounding areas. It has a single overlay (938) that serves the same area.
Overview of the 256 Area Code
What is the 256 area code?
The 256 area code serves Huntsville, Alabama, alongside other established area codes. When you see a 256 number, it indicates a local number within this geographic area.
Why was area code 256 created?
The 256 area code was introduced as an overlay to add numbers in Huntsville once the existing area code 938 began to run out of available prefixes. It added a new supply of numbers without requiring current residents to change their existing digits.
Geographic Coverage of the 256 Area Code
The 256 area code serves Huntsville and surrounding areas in Alabama. It operates within the Central Time (CT) time zone. It complements the coverage of area code 938. This area code covers several key cities, including:
- Huntsville
- Madison
- Decatur
- Florence
- Gadsden
- Athens
Got a call from a 256 number? It came from Huntsville, AL. Since 256 overlays with 938, every local call in the region needs all ten digits to land on the right line. Inside 256, Huntsville holds about 24% of the population; the rest is split across 182 smaller cities.
Huntsville Area Codes Overview
Huntsville is served by multiple area codes, reflecting its telecommunications needs. The 256 area code operates alongside 938. Here are the area codes serving this region:
The introduction of the 256 area code helped prevent number exhaustion, ensuring a continuous supply of phone numbers across the geographic area.
What cities does area code 256 cover?
| City | State | Population | % of Area Code | % of City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | AL | 230,402 | 2% | 100% |
| Madison | AL | 64,029 | 0% | 100% |
| Decatur | AL | 57,974 | 0% | 100% |
| Florence | AL | 42,716 | 0% | 100% |
| Gadsden | AL | 33,086 | 0% | 100% |
| Athens | AL | 32,587 | 0% | 100% |
| Albertville | AL | 23,392 | 0% | 100% |
| Oxford | AL | 22,088 | 0% | 98% |
| Anniston | AL | 21,127 | 0% | 100% |
| Cullman | AL | 20,239 | 0% | 100% |
* Sources: Population – U.S. Census Bureau PEP, Vintage 2024 (SUB-IP-EST2024-POP). Area code assignments – NANPA CO Code data. See our data methodology.
Has area code 256 been reported for unwanted calls?
Yes – 524 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing a 256 area code (May 29 – Jul 2, 2026).
- 49% robocalls
- ↑ 18% vs prior period
Most-reported subjects
- Other38%198
- Medical & prescriptions15%80
- Calls pretending to be government, businesses, or family and friends12%64
* Caller ID is easily spoofed, so these figures reflect the number shown on caller ID, not the caller's true location – an area code alone never identifies a caller. The FTC does not verify the facts in these complaints. Source: FTC Do Not Call (DNC) Reported Calls Data, retrieved 2026-07-05.
Which prefixes and exchanges belong to area code 256?
78% assigned to a telco
- 69% Landline
- 31% Wireless
- 0% Unknown
| Prefix | Usage | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| (256)200- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (256)201- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (256)202- | Wireless | Verizon Wireless |
| (256)203- | Landline | Centurylink Communications |
| (256)204- | Landline | South Central Bell Tel |
| (256)206- | Wireless | New Cingular Wireless Pcs |
| (256)207- | Landline | South Central Bell Tel |
| (256)208- | Landline | South Central Bell Tel |
| (256)209- | Wireless | Usa Mobility Wireless |
| (256)210- | Landline | Voip Innovations |
Frequently Asked Questions about the 256 Area Code
Who called me from a 256 number?
A 256 number is assigned to Huntsville, Alabama, so a call may come from there. But caller ID is easy to fake, and scammers often spoof a local 256 code to look nearby, so a 256 number doesn't prove the caller is local. Recently, 524 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 256 code (49% flagged as robocalls). If you don't recognize the number, let it go to voicemail; a real caller will leave a message.
Is 256 a scam area code?
No area code is a scam on its own. 256 is a normal, officially assigned code for Huntsville, Alabama. Spam callers spoof local codes to raise the odds you answer, so 256 on your caller ID says nothing about who is really calling. Recently, 524 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 256 code (49% flagged as robocalls). Judge the call itself, not the area code.
Why do I keep getting calls from the 256 area code?
Repeated calls from different 256 numbers are usually spoofing: a robocaller rotates through 256 numbers so each call looks local and slips past simple blocks. Recently, 524 unwanted-call complaints were reported to the FTC for numbers showing the 256 code (49% flagged as robocalls). Blocking one number rarely helps; voicemail screening, your carrier spam filter, and the Do Not Call Registry work better.
Should I answer an unknown 256 number?
If you aren't expecting a 256 call, let it ring to voicemail. Legitimate callers leave a message, most robocallers hang up when no one picks up, and answering can mark your number as active and bring more calls.
How do I block calls from the 256 area code?
Block a single 256 number from your recent-calls list (iPhone: tap the number, then Block this Caller; Android: tap the number, then Block or report spam). To cut the volume, turn on Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone or spam protection on Android, enable spam filtering from your carrier, and register at DoNotCall.gov. Blocking the entire 256 code also stops legitimate local calls, so use it only as a last resort.
Where is area code 256?
Area code 256 covers Huntsville and the surrounding area in Alabama, spanning 183 cities with about 973,090 residents. It shares its area with overlay code 938.
Is 256 a real area code?
Yes. 256 is an active code in the North American Numbering Plan, assigned by NANPA and in service for Huntsville, Alabama. A real code can still show up on spoofed spam calls, so treat unknown 256 calls with normal caution.
What timezone is the 256 area code in?
The 256 area code is in the Central Time (CT). Because a number can be kept when someone moves or switches to VoIP, a specific 256 caller may not be in that zone.
How do I call a 256 number from abroad?
From outside the US, dial your country's exit code, then 1 (the US country code), then 256 and the seven-digit number. From a mobile phone you can usually just enter +1 256 followed by the number and let the phone add the exit code for you.