Area code 205 is the original Alabama telephone area code, established in 1947 as one of the first area codes in the NANP. For nearly five decades, 205 covered the entire state of Alabama, making it synonymous with Alabama’s identity until the mid-1990s. After 1995, as demand for phone lines grew, 205 was pared down to serve central and west-central Alabama, including major cities such as Birmingham (the state’s largest metro area), Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Northport, and Jasper. The old 205 territory was reduced by the creation of new area codes 334 (in 1995) and 256 (in 1998), but 205 remains the hub for Birmingham and the surrounding region. In recent years, due to the proliferation of cell phones and devices, an overlay code 659 was activated in November 2019 to supplement area 205’s numbers. Even with this change, 205 retains its historic significance – it’s often used in local business names, sports fandom (e.g. “205” area pride), and is still closely associated with the heart of Alabama.