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Area Code Overview
Area code 256 is a geographic telephone area code in Alabama that went into service on March 23, 1998. The geographic regions covered by this area code overlay has a population of approximately 1,513,208.
Overlay and Dialing Rules
- Area Code: 256
- State: Alabama
- Type: General Purpose Code
- In Service Date: March 23, 1998
- Overlay Complex: 256/938
- Local Dialing Plan: This area does require you to dial the area code when calling locally.
Estimated Number of Assigned Phone Numbers in Area Code 256
This area code is ranked 111th out of 363 nationwide in estimated assigned phone numbers. Within the state territory it serves, it is ranked 3rd out of 6.
6,038,000
Estimated Service-Type Mix of Assigned Phone Numbers in Area Code 256
Wireless
2,374,000 assigned
39.32%
Wireline and VoIP
3,167,000 assigned
52.45%
Other / Unclassified
497,000 assigned
8.23%
Estimated Share of Wireless Numbers Originally Assigned to Each Carrier in Area Code 256
Estimated assigned wireless phone numbers: 2,374,000
Numbers may later be ported to another carrier, but this chart reflects original number assignment, not current subscriber share.
AT&T Wireless 1,145,000 (48.23%)
Verizon Wireless 797,000 (33.57%)
T-Mobile 431,000 (18.16%)
Optimum Mobile 1,000 (0.04%)
Estimated Share of Wireline and VoIP Numbers Originally Assigned to Each Carrier in Area Code 256
Estimated assigned wireline and VoIP phone numbers: 3,167,000
Bandwidth 375,000 (11.84%)
CHARTER IP ENABLED SERVICES, LLC 92,000 (2.91%)
TERRA NOVA TELECOM INC. 84,000 (2.65%)
PAETEC ITEL, LLC 72,000 (2.27%)
BRINDLEE MOUNTAIN TELEPHONE LLC 70,000 (2.21%)
Comcast Business 63,000 (1.99%)
FARMERS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE, INC. 50,000 (1.58%)
Other / Unclassified Assigned Numbering in Area Code 256
Estimated assigned other or unclassified phone numbers: 497,000
CORETEL ALABAMA, INC. - AL 128,000 (25.75%)
SPOK, INC. 70,000 (14.08%)
TELEPORT COMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC - AL 53,000 (10.66%)
ARDMORE TEL. CO., INC. 40,000 (8.05%)
BRIGHTSPEED OF ALABAMA, LLC - SOUTHERN 30,000 (6.04%)
PEOPLES TEL. CO., INC. 21,000 (4.23%)
BRIGHTSPEED OF ALABAMA, LLC - NORTHERN 20,000 (4.02%)
NEW HOPE TEL. COOP. 20,000 (4.02%)
SHARP COMMUNICATION, INC. 20,000 (4.02%)
SOUTHERN COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC. 19,000 (3.82%)
TON80 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC 18,000 (3.62%)
Cities and Towns in Area Code 256
Albertville, Alabama Alexander City, Alabama Anniston, Alabama Arab, Alabama Ardmore, Alabama Ashland, Alabama Athens, Alabama Attalla, Alabama Boaz, Alabama Bridgeport, Alabama Bryant, Alabama Camp Hill, Alabama Cedar Bluff, Alabama Centre, Alabama Cherokee, Alabama Childersburg, Alabama Chulafinnee, Alabama Collinsville, Alabama Courtland, Alabama Crossville, Alabama Cullman, Alabama Dadeville, Alabama Decatur, Alabama Delta, Alabama Elkmont, Alabama Falkville, Alabama Flat Rock, Alabama Florence, Alabama Fort Payne, Alabama Francisco, Alabama Fruithurst, Alabama Fyffe, Alabama Gadsden, Alabama Gaylesville, Alabama Geraldine, Alabama Goodwater, Alabama Grant, Alabama Grayson, Alabama Guntersville, Alabama Gurley, Alabama Hanceville, Alabama Hartselle, Alabama Hazel Green, Alabama Heflin, Alabama Henagar, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama Jacksonville, Alabama Killen, Alabama Lecta, Alabama Leesburg, Alabama Leighton, Alabama Lexington, Alabama Lineville, Alabama Madison, Alabama Massey, Alabama Mentone, Alabama Morgan City, Alabama Moulton, Alabama Munford, Alabama New Hope, Alabama New Market, Alabama Oden Ridge, Alabama Ohatchee, Alabama Piedmont, Alabama Pisgah, Alabama Rainsville, Alabama Ranburne, Alabama Red Bay, Alabama Rockford, Alabama Rogersville, Alabama Russellville, Alabama Sand Rock, Alabama Scottsboro, Alabama Section, Alabama Sheffield, Alabama Skyline, Alabama Stevenson, Alabama Sylacauga, Alabama Talladega, Alabama Town Creek, Alabama Union Grove, Alabama Valley Head, Alabama Veto, Alabama Wadley, Alabama Wedowee, Alabama Whorton, Alabama Woodland, Alabama These geographic regions are also served by area code 938.
How These Figures Were Built
These figures are estimates based on public phone-number assignment records. They are meant to show the likely mix of assigned phone numbers associated with area code 256, not live customer counts.
Some providers may have assigned phone numbers tied to this area code even if they do not actively market or sell service locally. These figures reflect public number-assignment records, not confirmed local service availability.
They also do not reflect number portability at the individual phone-number level, so some numbers may now be used on a different network or by a different provider than the original assignment records suggest.
Population data and locality matching provided by GeoNames.
Last refreshed: April 15, 2026 6:22 pm