what area code is 254

Area code 254 is located in central Texas and covers Killeen, Waco, and Temple. It is the only area code that serves the area. The counties served by this area code include Bell, Bosque, Callahan, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Limestone, McLennan, and Milam. Despite having only a single area code, even local calls in the numbering plan area require ten-digit dialing, because prior to October 2021, area code 254 had telephone numbers assigned for the central office code 988. In 2020, 988 was designated nationwide as a dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which created a conflict for exchanges that permit seven-digit dialing. This area code was therefore transitioned to ten-digit dialing by October 24, 2021.