The area code 659 is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Area code 659 serves the Birmingham, Alabama region and much of central and western Alabama as an overlay to the long-standing 205 area code. It covers the heart of the state’s largest metro, including major business districts, universities, hospitals, and historic neighborhoods. The overlay ensures there are enough phone numbers for a growing population and economy without changing existing 205 numbers. With 659 and 205 covering the same footprint, residents and businesses see both codes on local caller IDs.
Major cities and communities in the 205/659 area include:
Year introduced: 2019 (overlay of 205) — Source: North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA)
Introduced in 2019, 659 requires 10-digit dialing for local calls across the 205/659 overlay, which means you dial the area code plus the phone number every time. Existing 205 numbers did not change, and new lines in the region may receive 659, helping keep phone service consistent across Birmingham and nearby cities. This area includes major landmarks like the Birmingham Civil Rights District, the Vulcan statue, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. In short, if you live, work, or do business in central Alabama, seeing 659 or 205 on a number signals the same local calling area.