Area Code 740 Location

Area code 740 serves Athens, Ohio, and a wide stretch of southeastern and east-central Ohio, from the Appalachian foothills to the Ohio River. It was created in 1997 after a split from 614, and the 220 overlay was added in 2015, which means 10‑digit dialing is required. Centered in Athens, the code covers the county seat and the Ohio University campus, tying the number to a vibrant college town and the Hocking River valley. This area code does not cover Columbus itself, but it surrounds the metro’s east and south sides and reaches many historic communities.

Major cities and landmarks in the 740 area include:

• Athens — Home to Ohio University and the Hocking River.
• Newark — Site of the Newark Earthworks, part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage (2023).
• Zanesville — Famous for the Y-Bridge at the Muskingum and Licking rivers.
• Chillicothe — Ohio’s first and third capital in the early 1800s.
• Marietta — The first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory (1788).
• Portsmouth — A historic Ohio River city at the mouth of the Scioto.
• Lancaster — Gateway to the Hocking Hills region.
• Cambridge — A crossroads at I‑70 and I‑77.

The 740/220 region uses Eastern Time and spans college towns, river ports, and early Ohio capitals, making it a slice of Appalachian Ohio with deep history and active communities. Many new phone numbers in the same footprint now activate with the 220 area code, but both serve the exact same geography. For Athens and nearby towns, that means local businesses, campuses, and residents may use either 740 or 220 interchangeably for new lines.

“Created in 1997 from 614; overlay 220 began service in 2015.” — North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA)