220 Area Code: Newark, Zanesville & Southeastern Ohio — Full Guide

Introduction

When people think of Ohio, Columbus or Cleveland usually comes to mind first. But southeastern Ohio — the Appalachian foothills stretching from Newark and Zanesville south to Athens and Chillicothe — has its own distinct character: a landscape of river valleys, rolling hills, canal-era towns, and one of the country's most recognizable college cities. Since 2015, this region has been home to area code 220, an overlay to the original 740 code that serves the same geographic territory. Whether you received a 220 call, want to understand southeastern Ohio, or need a local presence in the region, this complete guide covers the cities, history, time zone, dialing rules, scam awareness, and how to get a 220 phone number.

Key Takeaways

• The 220 area code is an overlay for southeastern Ohio, sharing the same territory as area code 740.
• 220 was introduced in 2015 when the 740 number pool was projected to be exhausted.
• Major cities include Newark, Zanesville, Chillicothe, Athens, Lancaster, and Marietta.
• The entire 220 / 740 region operates on Eastern Time (UTC−5 standard / UTC−4 daylight saving).
• 10-digit dialing is required throughout the region for all calls — 7-digit local dialing is no longer valid.
• 740 was itself split from the original 614 (Columbus) in 1996, making 220 the third generation of area codes for southeastern Ohio.

Ohio's 220: The 2015 Overlay Explained

The 220 area code is an overlay — not a geographic split. This means 220 covers exactly the same territory as the existing 740 area code; no communities were moved from one code to another. Instead, when the 740 number pool began running low, the FCC and the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) authorized a second code — 220 — to share the same geographic area. New phone numbers are now assigned from the 220 pool; existing 740 numbers remain active.

Overlay codes require everyone in the region to dial 10 digits for all calls — even across the street. That transition happened throughout the 220 / 740 region in 2015 when the overlay launched.

Where the 220 Covers in Southeastern Ohio

The 220 / 740 region covers the southeastern half of Ohio — a crescent of territory running from the Columbus suburbs east and south through the Appalachian foothills to the Ohio River border with West Virginia and Kentucky. It does not include Columbus itself (614) or Cleveland / Akron (216 / 330 / 234). Think of it as everything south and east of Columbus, plus the agricultural and mining counties west of the Hocking Hills.

Neighboring Area Codes

Cities and Communities in the 220 / 740 Region

The 220 / 740 region is one of Ohio's most historically rich areas, with major cities that played central roles in the state's canal-era growth and Appalachian heritage:

• Newark: The largest city in the 220 / 740 region and the seat of Licking County, Newark sits at the confluence of the Licking River and the old Ohio and Erie Canal. It is home to the Newark Earthworks — the largest set of geometric earthworks in the world, built by the Hopewell culture roughly 2,000 years ago and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate.
• Zanesville: A historic canal and manufacturing city on the Muskingum River, Zanesville is known as the "Y-Bridge City" for its unusual three-way bridge spanning the confluence of the Muskingum and Licking rivers. Once a center for pottery and tile manufacturing, Zanesville retains a significant arts and ceramics heritage.
• Chillicothe: Ohio's first and third state capital, sitting on the Scioto River. Home to the outdoor drama "Tecumseh!" and Mound City — part of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park. A regional hub for paper manufacturing and healthcare.
• Athens: Home to Ohio University (founded 1804 — the first university in the Northwest Territory), Athens is a college town with a nationally recognized arts scene, a vibrant farmers' market, and a large student and faculty population that gives the city an outsized cultural footprint relative to its population.
• Lancaster: The seat of Fairfield County, Lancaster was the birthplace of General William Tecumseh Sherman. Known for its Victorian-era homes and as a glass manufacturing center through much of the 20th century.
• Marietta: Ohio's first permanent American settlement, founded in 1788 at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. Marietta has a well-preserved historic downtown, strong riverboat heritage, and is home to Marietta College.
• Portsmouth, Washington Court House, Circleville, Nelsonville, Logan: Additional regional centers reflecting the mixed agricultural, industrial, and educational character of the wider 220 / 740 footprint.

From Ohio's Original 614 to the 220 Overlay

Ohio's area code history is a three-act story of growth. The 220 is the third generation of codes for southeastern Ohio, with each generation reflecting how dramatically phone usage expanded in the 20th and early 21st centuries.

• 1947 — Ohio starts with two codes: Ohio was originally served by 614 (most of Ohio, including Columbus and the southeast) and 216 (the Cleveland and northeast Ohio region). This two-code arrangement mirrored the simple north-south population split that characterized many early NANP states. For comparison, Indiana was similarly divided into just two codes — the 317 area code covering most of the state and 219 covering the north.
• 1996 — 614 splits to create 740: The Columbus metro area had absorbed most of southeastern and central Ohio's number growth. To relieve the 614 pool, the FCC split southeastern Ohio — the non-Columbus territory — into a new area code: 740. Columbus and its immediate suburbs retained 614; everything to the south and east became 740.
• 2015 — 220 overlays 740: Cell phone proliferation, IoT devices, and internet service providers accelerated number consumption in the 740 region faster than projected. The FCC authorized area code 220 as a full overlay of the entire 740 territory. All new numbers in the region are now assigned from the 220 pool; all existing 740 numbers remain in service.

The Appalachian Ohio Identity Behind 220's Territory

The 220 / 740 region is officially classified as part of Appalachian Ohio by the Appalachian Regional Commission — a federal-state agency that works to strengthen the economy and quality of life in the 13-state Appalachian region. This classification shapes both how the region is understood and what resources it receives.

Appalachian Ohio has historically faced economic challenges — higher poverty rates, lower educational attainment, and slower job growth than the Columbus metro. But it also has enormous natural assets that are driving a new economic conversation:

• Hocking Hills State Park: One of Ohio's most visited natural attractions, drawing millions of visitors annually to Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls, and Ash Cave in Logan County. The park's growth has sparked a significant outdoor recreation and hospitality economy in the eastern 220 region — much like the role of natural parks in driving growth in the 218 area code region of northern Minnesota.
• Wayne National Forest: The only national forest in Ohio, spanning parts of southeastern Ohio and offering hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and ATV trails across more than 240,000 acres.
• Flint Ridge State Memorial: A site in Licking County where Hopewell and earlier cultures quarried the distinctive blue-gray flint that was traded across the entire eastern half of North America — one of the most significant prehistoric exchange networks ever documented.
• Cultural heritage: Ohio University in Athens anchors a regional creative economy, with festivals, galleries, and a food-and-craft scene that draws visitors from Columbus and beyond. Chillicothe's outdoor amphitheater drama "Tecumseh!" has run for decades as a regional theatrical institution.

Eastern Time and 10-Digit Dialing in Ohio

The entire 220 / 740 region runs on Eastern Time (ET):

• Eastern Standard Time (EST): UTC−5, from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March.
• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): UTC−4, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

How to Dial a 220 Number

• Within the US or Canada: Dial all 10 digits — 220-XXX-XXXX. The overlay means 10-digit dialing is required for every call in the region, local or long-distance.
• From outside the US: Dial your international exit code, the US country code (+1), then the full number — +1-220-XXX-XXXX.

Callers reaching a 220 number from the West Coast should note that southeastern Ohio is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time.

From Canal Towns to a Diversifying Economy

The economy of the 220 / 740 region has historically been tied to agriculture, manufacturing, and natural resources. It is in the middle of a slow but meaningful economic transition:

• Healthcare: Licking Memorial Health Systems (Newark), Genesis Healthcare (Zanesville), Adena Health System (Chillicothe), and OhioHealth affiliates serve as major employers throughout the region — healthcare is now the largest employment sector in most 220 / 740 cities.
• Higher education: Ohio University (Athens), Ohio Christian University (Circleville), and Marietta College are primary education anchors. OU's health sciences complex in Athens and Dublin (Columbus suburb) contributes significantly to the regional knowledge economy.
• Manufacturing: Longstanding manufacturers in plastic, metal, and paper products remain concentrated in Newark, Zanesville, and Lancaster. Ohio's paper industry has significant roots in Chillicothe, where Mead Paper (now Domtar) has operated since the 19th century.
• Agriculture: The western portion of the 220 / 740 region — Fairfield, Pickaway, and Ross counties — has some of Ohio's most productive farmland for corn, soybeans, and livestock.
• Outdoor recreation and tourism: Hocking Hills, Wayne National Forest, the Muskingum River corridor, and the expanding Ohio Appalachian wine region are drawing increasing visitor spending into communities that have historically relied on manufacturing and farming alone.

Virtual 220 Numbers vs. Traditional Lines

Why a 220 Number Works for Southeast Ohio Business

Southeastern Ohio is a close-knit region where local relationships drive business. Whether you are a healthcare provider reaching patients in Licking County, a real estate agent serving the growing Hocking Hills market, an outfitter operating in Wayne National Forest, or a service business expanding from Columbus into the 220 territory, a local 220 number removes the "out-of-area stranger" friction that costs so many potential client relationships.

Research consistently shows residents of smaller regional markets are more likely to answer local-prefix calls than toll-free or metropolitan numbers. A 220 number signals that you are present in the community — not calling from a Columbus call center.

How to Get a 220 Number — Step by Step

Features Built Into a Virtual 220 Line

• Local caller ID: Every outbound call shows your 220 prefix — southeastern Ohio clients see a familiar local number.
• Call forwarding: Route incoming calls to any phone, tablet, or laptop in real time — from anywhere.
• Two-way SMS: Text clients for appointments, follow-ups, and service confirmations from your 220 number.
• Auto-attendant (IVR): A professional phone menu for your business, even as a solo operator.
• Voicemail to email: Voicemail transcripts delivered directly to your inbox.
• Call recording: Record calls for quality assurance, compliance, or training.
• STIR/SHAKEN authentication: Your outbound calls are verified — not flagged as "Scam Likely."
• Team dashboard: Share your 220 line across a team with shared logs, notes, and routing rules.

Scam Calls from 220 Numbers — What to Know

The 220 area code is not a scam. It is a legitimate southeastern Ohio overlay code serving real residents and businesses. However, scammers spoof 220 and 740 numbers because a local Ohio prefix increases the chance that residents will pick up. Common spoofed 220 scam patterns include:

• Medicare and Social Security impersonation: Callers claiming to be government representatives offering benefits updates or fraud alerts, asking for your Social Security or Medicare numbers.
• Utility disconnect threats: Callers claiming your electric or gas service will be cut off unless you pay immediately via gift card or prepaid debit card.
• IRS and court threats: Callers threatening arrest for unpaid taxes or missed jury duty, demanding immediate wire transfers or gift card payments.
• Auto warranty robocalls: Automated calls claiming your vehicle warranty has expired — a common nationwide scam using locally-spoofed area codes.
• Student loan forgiveness scams: Callers targeting the Athens / Ohio University community with fake loan forgiveness programs that collect Social Security numbers and fees.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never trust caller ID — any 220 number can be spoofed. Call back using a number from the organization's official website.
• No government agency will demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• Let unknown numbers go to voicemail — legitimate callers leave messages; scammers and robocalls rarely do.

Suspected 220 scam calls can be reported to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov to help investigators shut down spoofing operations targeting southeastern Ohio residents.

The Final Word on Area Code 220

The 220 area code brings a new identity to one of Ohio's most historically layered regions — the Appalachian foothills, canal towns, and river valleys of the southeast. As the 2015 overlay to the original 740 code, 220 serves the same territory: Newark's ancient earthworks, Zanesville's Y-Bridge, Chillicothe's Scioto River valley, and Athens's thriving university community. It is a region undergoing genuine economic transition — leveraging its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and university talent to build something new on top of its deep industrial and agricultural roots.

For businesses targeting southeastern Ohio, a virtual 220 phone number gives you an instant local presence without a physical Ohio office. Activate one in minutes from any device, anywhere — and start reaching clients across Newark, Zanesville, Athens, and the broader Appalachian Ohio region with a number they will recognize as local.