Area code 740 covers much of southeastern and central Ohio, including cities such as Newark, Lancaster, Zanesville, Athens, and Marietta. It was created in 1997 from a split of area code 614 and covers a mix of small towns, college communities, and rural landscapes. The area is home to Ohio University in Athens and features industries such as energy, education, and agriculture. In 2015, area code 220 was added as an overlay, requiring ten-digit dialing. 740 remains an important identifier for communities in southeastern Ohio and symbolizes the region’s balance of tradition and growth.