Area code 938 is the overlay code for northern Alabama’s 256 region, covering the same cities such as Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence, and Gadsden. Introduced on July 10, 2010, 938 was implemented to relieve the strain on available numbers in area code 256 without requiring a geographic split. This was the first overlay in Alabama, and its activation made ten-digit dialing mandatory in the Huntsville/Decatur area from that point forward. Both 256 and 938 now concurrently serve this booming region in North Alabama, which is known for its aerospace industry in “Rocket City” (Huntsville) and the musical heritage of the Shoals. The overlay ensures that new telephone lines in the area may be assigned a 938 number, even as longstanding businesses and residents continue to use 256 numbers, effectively doubling the numbering capacity for North Alabama