Everything in Knoxville bleeds orange and white, even the regional area code.
The Knoxville area code is a clever and subtle nod to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. When you dial 865 on the keypad, you’re really typing VOL, which of course is the nickname for University of Tennessee at Knoxville students, athletes and fans.
However, 865 has not always represented the region. It wasn’t until 1999 that you’d key in VOL to reach a Knoxville phone number. Previously, Knoxville was assigned three other area codes, according to the University of Tennessee…