You'd think knowing the list of state capitals usa would be a breeze. After all, most of us spent at least one stressful week in fifth grade memorizing them for a map quiz. But honestly? Most people still get a surprising number of them wrong. We tend to assume the biggest, flashiest city in a state must be the seat of power. If you guessed Los Angeles for California or Chicago for Illinois, you’re in good company, but you’re also incorrect.
The reality of how these cities were chosen is way more chaotic than a simple "pick the biggest town" strategy. It involved gold rushes, political grudges, and even concerns about which city was far enough inland to avoid being shelled by a British warship.
The Most Commonly Confused Cities
Let's clear the air on the heavy hitters. New York City is not the capital of New York. That honor belongs to Albany, which has held the title since 1797.
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Why Albany?
At the time, it was a major hub for trade and strategically located on the Hudson River. Similarly, if you head west, you’ll find that Seattle is not the capital of Washington. That would be Olympia, a city about 60 miles south that was a bustling trading post when the territory was first organized.
Why the Biggest City Usually Isn't the Capital
There’s a concept called "anti-large-city bias." Back in the 1800s, many state legislatures intentionally avoided placing the capital in the largest metropolitan area. They were worried about the "corrupting influence" of big cities. They wanted a central, neutral location where lawmakers could work without being swayed by the massive mobs or wealthy merchants of places like Philadelphia or Detroit.
That’s why Pennsylvania’s capital is Harrisburg, not Philly. It’s also why Michigan’s government sits in Lansing instead of Detroit.
Complete List of State Capitals USA
If you need a quick refresher or you're settling a bet, here is the full roster of the 50 state capitals. I’ve grouped these roughly by region, because looking at an alphabetical list is honestly a bit of a slog.
The Northeast and New England
- Augusta, Maine
- Concord, New Hampshire
- Montpelier, Vermont (This is the smallest capital in the country!)
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Albany, New York
- Trenton, New Jersey
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
The South and Mid-Atlantic
- Dover, Delaware
- Annapolis, Maryland
- Richmond, Virginia
- Charleston, West Virginia
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Frankfort, Kentucky
The Midwest and Plains
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- Columbus, Ohio
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Springfield, Illinois
- Lansing, Michigan
- Madison, Wisconsin
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Jefferson City, Missouri
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Pierre, South Dakota
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Topeka, Kansas
The West and Southwest
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Austin, Texas
- Albuquerque? No, it’s Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Santa Fe is actually the oldest capital city in the US, established in 1610).
- Phoenix, Arizona (The most populous capital city today).
- Denver, Colorado
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Helena, Montana
- Boise, Idaho
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Carson City, Nevada
- Sacramento, California
- Salem, Oregon
- Olympia, Washington
The Non-Contiguous States
- Juneau, Alaska
- Honolulu, Hawaii
Weird Facts About Specific Capitals
Some of these cities have identities that go way beyond just being a place where laws are signed.
Take Juneau, Alaska. It’s the only capital in the country that you can’t reach by car. There are no roads leading into Juneau from the rest of the state or Canada. If you want to get there, you’re hopping on a plane or a ferry.
Then there’s Montpelier, Vermont. It’s tiny. We’re talking a population of fewer than 8,000 people. It’s also famously the only state capital in the United States without a McDonald’s. If you want a Big Mac, you have to drive to the next town over.
Phoenix, Arizona is the absolute beast of the group. With over 1.6 million people, it’s the only state capital that is also one of the five largest cities in the entire nation. It’s a massive sprawling metropolis that completely defies the "small, quiet capital" trend.
Names and Origins
The naming conventions for the list of state capitals usa are all over the place.
- Presidents: We’ve got Jackson (Andrew Jackson), Jefferson City (Thomas Jefferson), Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln), and Madison (James Madison).
- European Roots: Richmond was named after Richmond-on-Thames in England. Montpelier is a nod to the French city of Montpellier.
- Indigenous History: Topeka comes from a Kansa word essentially meaning "a good place to dig potatoes." Tallahassee is an Apalachee word for "old fields."
Why the List Changes (Or Doesn't)
State capitals aren't necessarily permanent, though they haven't moved much in the last century. In the early days of the Union, capitals jumped around like crazy. Georgia had five different capitals before finally settling on Atlanta in 1868. Usually, the move happened because the population shifted west, and people wanted the government to be "central."
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In 2026, the discussion is less about moving capitals and more about how these cities handle growth. Cities like Austin and Nashville have exploded in population, becoming massive cultural tech hubs. Meanwhile, places like Springfield or Albany remain primarily "government towns," where the local economy lives and dies by the legislative session.
Actionable Insights for Travel and Trivia
If you’re planning to visit any of these, don't just look at the dome. Most state houses offer free tours that are actually pretty fascinating, even if you aren't a history buff.
- Visit the "Smallest": Go to Montpelier to see how a "city" of 8,000 manages to run an entire state.
- Check the Elevation: If you go to Denver, remember you’re at 5,280 feet. Drink twice as much water as usual.
- Pronunciation Matters: It’s "Boy-see," not "Boy-zee" for Idaho. And for the love of everything, it’s "Ar-kan-saw," not "Ar-Kansas" (though the city of Pierre is pronounced like "peer," not the French "pee-air").
Understanding the list of state capitals usa is more than just a memory exercise; it’s a look into the geographic and political soul of the country. These cities were chosen to represent the people, often in the most literal, central way possible.
To get the most out of this knowledge, try visiting a "non-major" capital like Santa Fe or Annapolis. These smaller seats of government often preserve historical architecture and local culture far better than the massive metropolitan hubs ever could.