220 area code — Athens, OH geographic
Phone numbers beginning 220 are registered to the Athens area of Ohio (Eastern time zone). The code entered service on April 22, 2015. Together with 740 it forms the 220/740 overlay. Because of number portability and VoIP, the area code tells you where the number was issued, not where the caller is right now.
NANPA lists 136 active NXX prefixes in 220, assigned to 20 carriers. 136 of those prefixes are pooled — shared between carriers in thousands-number blocks. The code spans 76 rate centers (billing localities).
To check where a specific 220 number was issued, look up its six-digit prefix; to check who is actually calling, ignore the display and verify through an official callback number — caller ID is assertable and routinely spoofed.
Its parent code is 740, which it left in 2015.
Official projections put exhaust for the 220/740 complex at 2Q 2059.
The dialing plan is 10D for home-NPA local calls and 10D across codes.
Largest localities in 220
| Locality (rate center) | Active prefixes | Also served by |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | 22 | 740 |
| Pataskala | 8 | 740 |
| Zanesville | 6 | 740 |
| Frazeysburg | 3 | 740 |
| Baltimore | 3 | 740 |
| Lancaster | 3 | 740 |
| Amanda | 3 | 740 |
| Marion | 3 | 740 |
| Chesapeake | 3 | 740 |
| Steubenville | 2 | 740 |
FAQ
Why am I getting spam calls from 220 numbers?
Scammers spoof recognizable area codes so calls look local or familiar. A displayed 220 number does not prove the call originated there — see our guide to spotting spoofed calls.
Where is a 220 number from?
220 is assigned to Athens and surrounding areas of Ohio in the Eastern time zone. The three digits after the area code (the prefix) narrow it down to a rate center.
Is 220 a toll-free number?
No. 220 is a geographic code; calls are billed like any other domestic call. Toll-free codes are 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877 and 888.
Why do 740 and 220 cover the same place?
They are overlays: when a code runs low on numbers, a new code is added over the same territory instead of splitting it. The 220/740 complex shares one service area, and local calls are dialed with 10 digits.
Will 220 run out of numbers?
NANPA's current forecast projects exhaust in 2Q 2059 — decades of capacity remain.