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Area Code 256 Location & Details

State / Region: Alabama • Country: United States

Major Cities Covered: Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, Athens, Gadsden, Albertville, Oxford, Anniston, Cullman

Standard Dial Format
+1 (256) XXX-XXXX
Country Code: +1 (NANP Format)
What State is Area Code 256?
AlabamaState Hub →
Country Territory
United States
256 Area Code Time Zone
Central
256 Overlay Codes
938

Area Code 256 Geographic Map

Interactive location bounds and coverage area for Alabama (Central Timezone)

Lat: 34.13° • Lng: -86.46°
📍 Geographic Center: AlabamaMap data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Where is Area Code 256 Located?

Telephone area code 256 is assigned to Alabama in United States. It serves cities and metropolitan communities including Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, Athens, Gadsden, Albertville, Oxford, Anniston, Cullman.

Historical Context & Area Code Overlay Information:256 serves Alabama (United States).

For local and long-distance calls within area code 256, standard 10-digit dialing (256) XXX-XXXX applies.

Who Called Me from Area Code 256?

Received an unknown call, missed call, or text scam from area code 256? Here is how to trace who is calling from 256 area code and verify unknown numbers safely:

1.
Identify Missed Calls & Voicemails:

Legitimate contacts usually leave a detailed voicemail or caller ID record.

2.
Watch Out for Neighbor Spoofing:

Robocallers often fake incoming caller ID numbers using your local 256 prefix to boost pick-up rates.

3.
Reverse Phone Lookup Area Code 256:

Search public white-pages or use caller intelligence guides before returning unfamiliar calls.

Learn How Reverse Phone Lookups Work→

How to Call Area Code 256 & Dialing Format

When placing a phone call to a number in area code 256, follow the correct dialing format depending on your calling location:

  • Calling from inside the US / Canada (+1): Dial 1 + (256) + 7-digit number.
  • Calling from an international location outside +1: Dial your country's international exit code (e.g. 011 in US or + on mobile) + 1 + 256 + 7-digit number.
  • Do I need to dial area code 256 for local calls? Yes, 10-digit dialing (area code + line number) is mandatory across North American telephone networks.

Top Cities & Municipalities Served in Area Code 256

Urban centers, census places, and communities within the +1-256 calling area

50 Major Cities Listed
City NameCountyPopulation% of 256 Pop
HuntsvilleMadison County233,62727.1%
MadisonMadison County67,9687.9%
DecaturMorgan County58,0566.7%
FlorenceLauderdale County42,5814.9%
AthensLimestone County34,2094.0%
GadsdenEtowah County33,3673.9%
AlbertvilleMarshall County23,7102.8%
OxfordCalhoun County22,1992.6%
AnnistonCalhoun County20,9302.4%
CullmanCullman County20,7992.4%
Muscle ShoalsLauderdale County17,6662.1%
HartselleMorgan County16,3121.9%
ScottsboroJackson County16,1231.9%
Center PointJefferson County15,5381.8%
Fort PayneDeKalb County15,1891.8%
TalladegaTalladega County14,8401.7%
Alexander CityTallapoosa County14,5151.7%
JacksonvilleCalhoun County14,4001.7%
SylacaugaTalladega County12,0551.4%
RussellvilleFranklin County10,9041.3%

Counties Covered by Area Code 256

Geographic county distribution and population coverage across Alabama

County NameTotal Population% of 256 Area% of County
Madison County423,07135.4%72%
Morgan County126,2489.7%66%
Etowah County103,4759.3%77%
Calhoun County116,3037.1%52%
Lauderdale County97,2987.0%62%
Marshall County102,8605.3%44%
Limestone County119,0514.3%31%
Talladega County81,4813.7%39%
Cullman County92,7713.1%29%
DeKalb County73,5812.7%32%
Jefferson County666,5852.6%3%
Colbert County59,0732.2%32%
Tallapoosa County40,8922.0%43%
Jackson County53,9351.9%30%
Franklin County32,1891.6%44%
Cherokee County26,0881.0%33%
Cleburne County15,8380.4%23%
Lawrence County33,6510.4%10%
Clay County14,2120.3%17%

☎️Area Code 256 Exchange Prefixes & Carriers

Showing 50 of 800 central office 3-digit prefixes and assigned telecom carriers

65% Landline28% Wireless7% VoIP
PrefixLine UsageRate CenterAssigned CarrierAssign Date
(256) 200-📱WirelessARABCELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - AL02/23/2004
(256) 201-📱WirelessHEFLINNEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GAN/A
(256) 202-📱WirelessGUNTERSVLCELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - AL01/12/2012
(256) 203-📞LandlineHUNTSVILLECENTURYLINK COMMUNICATIONS, LLC04/15/2013
(256) 204-📞LandlineXXXXXXXXXXBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 205-💻VoIPWADLEYONVOY SPECTRUM, LLC05/24/2023
(256) 206-📱WirelessATHENSNEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GA05/20/2002
(256) 207-📞LandlineSYLACAUGABELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 208-📞LandlineSYLACAUGABELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 209-📱WirelessDECATURNEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GA07/12/2023
(256) 210-💻VoIPHUNTSVILLEVOIP INNOVATIONS, LLC06/18/2019
(256) 211-📞LandlineXXXXXXXXXXMULTIPLE OCN LISTINGN/A
(256) 212-📞LandlineALEXANDRCYBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 213-📞LandlineHUNTSVILLEBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 214-📱WirelessDECATURMETROPCS, INC.N/A
(256) 215-📞LandlineALEXANDRCYBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 216-📞LandlineATHENSBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 217-📞LandlineHUNTSVILLEBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 218-📞LandlineSCOTTSBOROBRIGHTSPEED OF ALABAMA, LLC - SOUTHERNN/A
(256) 219-📞LandlineHUNTSVILLESPOK, INC.N/A
(256) 220-📞LandlineHUNTSVILLEBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 221-📱WirelessDECATURCELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - ALN/A
(256) 222-📞LandlineSHEFFIELDPAETEC ITEL, LLC04/25/2005
(256) 223-📱WirelessTALLADEGAMETROPCS, INC.N/A
(256) 224-📱WirelessARABCELLCO PARTNERSHIP DBA VERIZON WIRELESS - AL01/12/2012
(256) 225-📞LandlineANNISTONPOWERTEL BIRMINGHAM LICENSES, INC.N/A
(256) 226-📞LandlineALBERTVLPOWERTEL BIRMINGHAM LICENSES, INC.N/A
(256) 227-📞LandlineDECATURPOWERTEL BIRMINGHAM LICENSES, INC.N/A
(256) 228-📞LandlineSECTIONBRIGHTSPEED OF ALABAMA, LLC - SOUTHERNN/A
(256) 229-📞LandlineLEXINGTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 230-📞LandlineATHENSBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 231-📞LandlineANNISTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 232-📞LandlineATHENSBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 233-📞LandlineATHENSBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 234-📞LandlineALEXANDRCYBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 235-📞LandlineANNISTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 236-📞LandlineANNISTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 237-📞LandlineANNISTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 238-📞LandlineANNISTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 239-📱WirelessANNISTONNEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GAN/A
(256) 240-📞LandlineANNISTONBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 241-📞LandlineANNISTONPAETEC ITEL, LLCN/A
(256) 242-📱WirelessSECTIONNEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GA03/09/2001
(256) 243-📱WirelessGUNTERSVLNEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GA05/19/2022
(256) 244-📱WirelessSCOTTSBORONEW CINGULAR WIRELESS PCS, LLC - GAN/A
(256) 245-📞LandlineSYLACAUGABELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 246-📞LandlineFLORENCEPAETEC ITEL, LLCN/A
(256) 247-📞LandlineROGERSVLBELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A
(256) 248-📞LandlineSHEFFIELDPAETEC ITEL, LLCN/A
(256) 249-📞LandlineSYLACAUGABELLSOUTH TELECOMM INC DBA SOUTH CENTRAL BELL TELN/A

Frequently Asked Questions about Area Code 256

Where is area code 256 located?

Area code 256 is located in Alabama (United States), serving cities like Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, Athens, Gadsden, Albertville, Oxford, Anniston, Cullman.

What timezone is area code 256?

Area code 256 operates in the Central timezone.

What state is area code 256?

Area code 256 is assigned to the state / telecom territory of Alabama.

Is area code 256 a scam or dangerous?

Area code 256 is an official geographic area code for Alabama. However, beware of robocaller spoofing.

Alabama State Area Codes

View complete directory of telephone area codes assigned to Alabama.

Explore Alabama Directory

Get a 256 Business Phone Number

How to acquire a virtual phone number or business line with area code 256 for local customer trust in Alabama.

Get 256 Business Number
🛡️ Scam & Safety Directory

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Overlay & Nearby Area Codes for Alabama

Explore neighboring telecom prefixes sharing geographical boundaries with area code 256.

938
Central
Area Code 938
Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, Athens, Gadsden, Albertville, Oxford, Anniston, Cullman
205
Central
Area Code 205
Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Northport, Homewood, Trussville, Pelham, Bessemer
251
Central
Area Code 251
Mobile, Daphne, Foley, Fairhope, Prichard, Gulf Shores, Saraland, Spanish Fort, Orange Beach, Bay Minette
334
Central
Area Code 334
Montgomery, Auburn, Dothan, Prattville, Phenix City, Opelika, Enterprise, Troy, Millbrook, Selma
483
Central
Area Code 483
Montgomery, Auburn, Dothan, Prattville, Phenix City, Opelika, Enterprise, Troy, Millbrook, Selma
659
Central
Area Code 659
Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Northport, Homewood, Trussville, Pelham, Bessemer