ALABAMA · AREA CODE GUIDE
256 area code location: Huntsville and Madison, Alabama
- Local date and time
- Central Time
Map data: HSIP (2010) · NANPA · US Census Bureau, checked 26 September 2026. Boundaries are approximate.
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Download the 256 area code map
A printable area code 256 location map, with time zone and state. Use the PNG image in a document or slide; the SVG stays sharp at any size.
256 area code at a glance
- State
- Alabama
- Primary cities
- Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur
- Established
- Population
- Largest community: Huntsville, 233,627 (2025)Not an area-code population.
- Prefixes in service
- 786 as of 13 October 2026
An area code does not show where a caller is now.
History
Country and calling code: United States (+1).
Parent code: 205.
New code planned: No, as of 22 September 2026.
- : 938 added as an overlay on 256
Time zone
- Central Time
- Standard time UTC−06:00
- Daylight saving time UTC−05:00
Counties and cities covered
256 numbers are issued across 91 communities. These are telephone exchange areas, which follow the phone network rather than city limits, so a place can sit just outside the boundary of the town it is named for.
Counties of the communities we could place (the code may reach further): DeKalb County, Cherokee County, Jackson County, Limestone County, Marshall County, Madison County, Calhoun County, Lauderdale County, Morgan County, Talladega County, Cleburne County, Colbert County, Cullman County, Etowah County, Lawrence County, Randolph County, Tallapoosa County, Clay County, Coosa County, and Franklin County.
- Huntsville
- Madison
- Decatur
- Florence
- Athens
- Gadsden
- Albertville
- Anniston
- Cullman
- Hartselle
- Scottsboro
- Fort Payne
- Talladega
- Alexander City
- Jacksonville
- Sylacauga
- Russellville
- Boaz
- Sheffield
- Guntersville
- Arab
- Rainsville
- Attalla
- Piedmont
- Childersburg
66 more communities
- Centre
- Heflin
- Moulton
- Hanceville
- Owens Cross Roads
- Red Bay
- New Hope
- Dadeville
- Lineville
- Henagar
- Bridgeport
- Collinsville
- Stevenson
- Ashland
- Cedar Bluff
- Crossville
- Ardmore
- Rogersville
- Munford
- Goodwater
- Ohatchee
- Falkville
- Grant
- Town Creek
- Killen
- Leesburg
- Fyffe
- Cherokee
- Camp Hill
- Geraldine
- Skyline
- Wadley
- Gurley
- Section
- Wedowee
- Lexington
- Pisgah
- Leighton
- Sand Rock
- Valley Head
- Courtland
- Elkmont
- Ranburne
- Rockford
- Mentone
- Woodland
- Fruithurst
- Gaylesville
- Union Grove
- Aroney
- Bryant
- Chulafinnee
- Delta
- Flat Rock
- Francisco
- Grayson
- Hazel Green
- Lecta
- Massey
- Morgan City
- Morrisons Cross Roads
- New Market
- Oden Ridge
- Rinehart
- Veto
- Whorton
Notable places in 256
| Place | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Redstone Arsenal | 2.0 km from Huntsville | US Army installation |
| Huntsville International Airport | 8.2 km from Madison | Commercial airport, 804,665 enplanements (2024) |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | 5.2 km from Huntsville | University, 9,916 12-month enrollment (2023–24) |
| Jacksonville State University | 1.8 km from Jacksonville | University, 11,369 12-month enrollment (2023–24) |
| University of North Alabama | 2.7 km from Florence | University, 12,537 12-month enrollment (2023–24) |
| Muscle Shoals Sound Studio | 2.4 km from Sheffield | Museum |
| Anniston Regional Airport | 10.5 km from Anniston | Airport |
| Russell Cave National Monument | 8.8 km from Bridgeport | National Monument |
| Addison Municipal Airport | 16.5 km from Grayson | Airport |
| U.S. Space & Rocket Center | 3.2 km from Huntsville | Museum |
Area code 256
256 started service on .It came from 205.
No new code is planned for the region as of .
Area code 938 has its own page.
Questions about 256
Where is the 256 area code?
256 is in Alabama. Its numbers are issued in Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, and 88 other communities.
What time zone is area code 256 in?
256 is in Central Time. Daylight saving time is observed.
Does 256 have an overlay?
Yes. 938 was added as an overlay on 256 on 10 July 2010.
What cities are in the 256 area code?
Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, Florence, and Athens, and 86 other communities.
What state is area code 256 in?
Area code 256 is in Alabama.
What counties are covered by area code 256?
Area code 256 covers communities in DeKalb County, Cherokee County, Jackson County, Limestone County, Marshall County, Madison County, Calhoun County, Lauderdale County, Morgan County, Talladega County, Cleburne County, Colbert County, Cullman County, Etowah County, Lawrence County, Randolph County, Tallapoosa County, Clay County, Coosa County, and Franklin County.
Is 256 a toll-free area code?
No. 256 is a geographic area code. The toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, and 888.
Sources: NANPA area code listing, NANPA places by area code, NANPA central office code assignments, U.S. Census Bureau population estimates, OMB metropolitan area delineations. Checked .
Business phone numbers in area code 256, answered by an AI agent
A local number for Huntsville, Madison, and Decatur, Alabama, with an AI receptionist that takes caller details, answers the questions you give it, and books appointments. Numbers depend on what carriers have left.