Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, and Florence share the 938 area code, an overlay covering the same 22-county footprint as 256 across north Alabama. New numbers began carrying 938 on July 10, 2010 — Alabama's first-ever all-services overlay, added once Huntsville's aerospace-driven growth pushed 256 toward exhaustion.
This guide covers 938's counties and cities, what's driving demand in a region built on rockets and defense contracting, how calls work across such a wide footprint, which features are worth adding to a 938 line, and how dialing works here.
Counties and cities at a glance
938/256 covers roughly 22 counties across north Alabama, from Florence and the Shoals in the west to Gadsden and Talladega in the east — Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Cullman, Blount, Jackson, Lauderdale, DeKalb, Etowah, and Calhoun counties among them.
What's driving demand in Alabama's Rocket City
Huntsville's economy is built on space, defense, and the contractors that support both:
Redstone Arsenal This major Army installation anchors a huge base of military and civilian defense-contractor lines.
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center One of NASA's largest field centers drives steady demand for research, engineering, and administrative lines.
Aerospace and defense contractors A dense cluster of aerospace and technology companies keeps adding office lines across the Huntsville metro.
Many of these north Alabama businesses are moving their phone systems onto UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) — one cloud platform for calling, video, and messaging that scales as a company adds offices across the region, the same pattern behind newer overlays like 934 on New York's Long Island. Contact us to set up a 938 or 256 number for your Alabama business.
Calls and texts across a 22-county footprint
A call from Huntsville to Florence or Gadsden is still a standard 938/256 local call, even though those cities sit well over an hour apart by car. Ten-digit dialing applies uniformly across the whole footprint, and rates don't change based on distance within the region.
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Features worth adding on a 938 number
A hosted 938 or 256 line pairs well with call routing across multiple office or lab extensions, an auto-attendant for after-hours contractor or client calls, and call analytics for tracking response times. Most providers bundle these into a flat monthly plan rather than pricing each feature separately.
Time zone & how to dial a 938 number
North Alabama runs on Central Time (CT) — CST (UTC −6) in winter, CDT (UTC −5) during Daylight Saving Time. Ten-digit dialing has been mandatory since June 5, 2010: dial 1, then the area code, then the seven-digit number, for every local call.
Key takeaways
- 938 is Alabama's first all-services overlay, covering the same north Alabama footprint as 256.
- It launched on July 10, 2010, driven by Huntsville's aerospace and defense-sector growth.
- Anchors include Redstone Arsenal, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and aerospace contractors.
- Both 938 and 256 cover identical territory at identical rates.
- Time zone: Central (CT), with mandatory 10-digit dialing since June 2010.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 938 area code?
It's an overlay covering north Alabama, including Huntsville, Decatur, and Florence, sharing the same footprint as 256.
Where is the 938 area code located?
Roughly 22 counties across north Alabama, from the Shoals in the west to Gadsden and Talladega in the east.
Is 938 a Florida area code?
No. It has never been assigned to Florida — this is strictly an Alabama code.
What state is the 938 area code in?
Alabama — specifically the northern part of the state, anchored by Huntsville.
What time zone is the 938 area code?
Central Time Zone (CT) — CST (UTC −6) in winter and CDT (UTC −5) during Daylight Saving Time.
Why does north Alabama have two area codes, 938 and 256?
938 was added in 2010 as Alabama's first overlay after regulators determined 256 would run short on numbers due to Huntsville's aerospace and defense-sector growth.
How do I get a 938 area code number?
Sign up with a VoIP provider such as My Country Mobile, search for available numbers in either code, choose a north Alabama prefix, select a plan, and activate.
