Area code 970 serves the western and northern parts of Colorado, including Fort Collins, Greeley, Grand Junction, and Steamboat Springs. It was created in 1995 from a split with 303 and covers a diverse landscape of college towns, mountain communities, and agricultural regions. Seven-digit dialing is still common for local calls. Area code 970 captures Colorado’s scenic and outdoor-driven identity, representing both the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, and is a marker for those living outside the densely urbanized Denver metro area.