Area code 940 serves north-central Texas outside the Dallas–Fort Worth area, including Wichita Falls, Denton, and Gainesville. Established in 1997 from a split with 817, it includes college towns, military installations, and rapidly developing suburban zones. The presence of the University of North Texas in Denton gives the area a youthful, creative vibe. Seven-digit dialing is still in use locally. Area code 940 is representative of Texas’s blend of academic growth, military presence, and small-town values in the shadow of a sprawling metroplex.