Numbers
205 Area Code: Birmingham, AL
Area code 205 covers Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and west-central Alabama. Learn about coverage, time zone, and how to get a local 205 number.
Area code 205 serves Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and west-central Alabama. It shares its coverage area with overlay code 659. If you need a local presence in Birmingham or central Alabama, you can get a 205 phone number through Telnyx.
What area does 205 cover?
The 205 area code covers the Birmingham metropolitan area and surrounding counties in west-central Alabama.
| City | County | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Jefferson | ~200,000 | Largest city in Alabama |
| Tuscaloosa | Tuscaloosa | ~100,000 | University of Alabama |
| Hoover | Jefferson/Shelby | ~93,000 | Largest suburb |
| Vestavia Hills | Jefferson | ~39,000 | South of Birmingham |
| Bessemer | Jefferson | ~26,000 | Southwest of Birmingham |
| Alabaster | Shelby | ~34,000 | South of Hoover |
| Homewood | Jefferson | ~26,000 | Over-the-mountain suburb |
| Mountain Brook | Jefferson | ~21,000 | Affluent suburb |
| Jasper | Walker | ~14,000 | Northwest Alabama |
| Northport | Tuscaloosa | ~30,000 | Near Tuscaloosa |
The region spans Jefferson, Shelby, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Blount, Bibb, Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, and Winston counties. For complete coverage details, see the NANPA area code map.
205 area code time zone
Area code 205 is in the Central Time Zone (CT). During standard time, this is UTC-6 (CST). During daylight saving time, it shifts to UTC-5 (CDT).
History of the 205 area code
The 205 area code is one of the original North American area codes established in 1947. It originally covered the entire state of Alabama.
As the state population grew, 205 was split multiple times:
- 1995 — 334 split off for southern Alabama (Montgomery, Mobile)
- 1998 — 256 split off for northern Alabama (Huntsville)
- 2019 — 659 added as overlay for remaining 205 territory
Today, 205 and 659 serve the same geographic area centered on Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. New phone lines may be assigned either area code, and 10-digit dialing is required for all local calls. For regulatory details, visit the Alabama Public Service Commission.
Why the 205 region matters for business
Birmingham and the 205 region anchor Alabama economy with strengths in healthcare, education, finance, and manufacturing:
Healthcare
- UAB Hospital — one of the largest academic medical centers in the US
- Childrens of Alabama
- St. Vincents Health System
- Major medical research hub
Education
- University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
- UAB (Birmingham)
- Samford University
- Research and development
Finance & Banking
- Regions Financial Corporation headquarters
- Banking and financial services hub
- Insurance industry
Manufacturing & Industry
- Mercedes-Benz US International (Tuscaloosa)
- Steel and metals production legacy
- Automotive suppliers
- Aerospace components
A local 205 number helps businesses build trust with customers in this region. Calls from local area codes have higher answer rates than unfamiliar or toll-free numbers.
Get a 205 phone number
Telnyx offers local phone numbers in the 205 area code. You get:
- Instant provisioning — activate numbers in minutes, not days
- Flexible pricing — pay only for what you use
- Voice, SMS, and MMS — full communication capabilities
- API access — programmatic number management
- Number portability — bring your existing 205 numbers to Telnyx
Browse available 205 numbers or contact sales to discuss your needs.
Neighboring area codes
| Area Code | Region | Major City | Relationship to 205 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 659 | Central Alabama | Birmingham | Overlay (same area) |
| 256/938 | Northern Alabama | Huntsville | North (split from 205) |
| 334 | Southern Alabama | Montgomery | South (split from 205) |
| 251 | Mobile area | Mobile | Southwest |
| 662 | Northern Mississippi | Tupelo | West |
| 706/762 | Western Georgia | Columbus | East |
Frequently asked questions
What area code is 205? Area code 205 serves Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and west-central Alabama. It is one of the original 1947 area codes.
What time zone is 205? Central Time (CT) — UTC-6 standard, UTC-5 during daylight saving.
Is 205 the same as 659? Yes, 659 is an overlay that covers the same geographic area as 205. Both area codes serve the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa region.
Do I need to dial the area code for local calls? Yes. Since the 659 overlay was introduced in 2019, all calls require 10-digit dialing (area code + 7-digit number).
Share on Social
Sign up for emails of our latest articles and news
Related articles