Area code 970 serves western and northern Colorado, covering cities such as Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Greeley, Durango, and Vail. It was created in 1995 from a split of the 303 area code, due to increasing demand from Colorado’s growing population. The region includes ski resorts, university towns like Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and energy-producing areas. 970 supports diverse industries from tourism and education to agriculture and natural resources. As the state’s most geographically expansive code, it captures both the beauty and complexity of Colorado’s less urbanized regions. It remains a single-code region and is strongly associated with the state’s scenic and adventurous lifestyle.