Area code 256 serves the northern and northeastern regions of Alabama, including Huntsville, Decatur, and Florence. Introduced in 1998 as a split from area code 205 and overlaid by area code 938 in 2010, the region is a center of aerospace and technology, with Huntsville home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal. The area also features historic small towns, outdoor trails, and mountain scenery.